Ahmed Gaïd Salah but if he was providing political cover it clearly wasn't enough to save the premier...
The top team around the President – led by his brother Saïd Bouteflika; the Chief of Staff and Deputy Defence Minister Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaïd Salah; Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal; and the former Premier-turned-directeur de cabinet of the Presidential Office Ahmed Ouyahia – provide cover for Boutef who is usually absent from day-to-day business (AC Vol 57 No 13 Political plots in a slow month)...
There is even speculation that the surprisingly resilient Gaïd Salah might be eyeing up the top job having seen off several apparently more powerful military décideurs including the most powerful of all Lt...
If Gaïd Salah took over that would return the presidency to the military which held the top job for over three decades before Boutef (AC Vol 56 No 19 Trembles at the top & Vol 54 No 15 Leadership in limbo)...
There was pressure for Boutef's trusted Chief of Staff and Deputy Defence Minister Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaïd Salah to be retired...
In fact Saïd stays in his key role and Gaïd Salah's tenure at the head of a huge and ever growing military was confirmed in the reshuffle...
Ahmed Gaïd Salah a key Bouteflika-loyalist whose longevity at the Defence Ministry has surprised many army-watchers (AC Vol 54 No 15 Leadership in limbo)...
Ahmed Gaïd Salah another key Bouteflika loyalist...
This followed the Independence Day promotions that doubled the number of lieutenant generals in the ANP – a rank previously held only by Gaïd Salah and Tewfik among serving commanders – as Gendarmerie Nationale commander Ahmed Boustila and Benali took the highest rank in recognition not only of their seniority but also of their close links to the ‘presidential clan'...
Ahmed Gaïd Salah remain in place...
Ahmed Gaïd Salah (75 this month) with a younger candidate to lead a reinvigorated military...
Ahmed Gaïd Salah a key ally of the ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika...
Aspiring suppliers have been sending missions to sound out the emerging younger generation of officers although Gaïd Salah who was promoted to de facto Defence Minister earlier this year and Medienne continue to stick stubbornly to office...
A long-awaited reshuffle at the top of the military-security apparatus is orchestrated by Gaïd Salah who has proved much more resilient than most analysts ever thought likely...
Bouteflika clearly cannot continue for long and key allies such as the Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaïd Salah and the head of military intelligence the Département du renseignement et de la sécurité (DRS) Lt...
They include Constitutional Council President Mourad Medelci; the army Chief of Staff and Deputy Defence Minister Ahmed Gaïd Salah; the Minister of State for the Interior and Local Authorities El Tayeb Belaïz; Justice Minister El Tayeb Louh and the Front de libération nationale Secretary General Amar Saïdani...
