Algeria’s Bouteflika delays elections, will not seek fifth term

Algeria‘s President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has said he will not seek a fifth term and announced the delay of the country’s presidential polls amid mass protests against his reelection bid. 

In a message carried by the official APS news agency on Monday, the 82-year-old also said the elections would follow a national conference on political and constitutional reform to be carried out by the end of 2019.  

The ailing leader, who has been confined to a wheelchair since suffering a stroke in 2013, said a government reshuffle would also take place soon.

According to APS, Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia had already resigned.   

The dramatic developments followed weeks of mass demonstrations against Bouteflika’s plan to extend his 20-year rule.

More to follow …