Abdelaziz Bouteflika

President; Minister of National Defense

Date of Birth: 02/03/1937
Place of Birth: Oudja, Morocco

Born and educated in Morocco, Bouteflika joined the Armée de Libération Nationale (ALN), a faction of the Front de Libération Nationale (FLN) in 1956.  As a member of the FLN, Bouteflika was the Administrative Secretary to former President Houari Boumediénne (1965-1978) and remained close to him until Boumediénne's sudden death in 1978. Two factions emerged in the FLN at this point: Bouteflika, who was thought to represent the more conservative elements, and those who supported Colonel Mohamed Salah Yahiaoui. Colonel Chadli Bendjedid was appointed President, by means of a compromise between the two, and Bouteflika's power was gradually removed. He was faced with corruption charges at this point and embarked on a self-imposed exile in 1981, not returning to Algeria until 1987 (when he rejoined the central committee of the FLN). Bouteflika stayed on the political sidelines as civil war raged in the early and mid-1990s. He stood for the presidency, with the backing of the army, in 1999 and won 81% of the vote (a figure that is disputed by his opponents). He was re-elected in 2004.