Pro-Bouteflika Parties Criticized Over Demanding Referendum

Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (seated) holds his ballot during the presidential election in Algiers April 17, 2014. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra
Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (seated) holds his ballot during the presidential election in Algiers April 17, 2014. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra
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Pro-Bouteflika Parties Criticized Over Demanding Referendum

Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (seated) holds his ballot during the presidential election in Algiers April 17, 2014. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra
Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (seated) holds his ballot during the presidential election in Algiers April 17, 2014. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

The Movement of Society for Peace (MSP) – an opposition party in Algeria, has expressed frustration over pro-former Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika parties calling for a referendum on amending the constitution.

Minister of Communication Ammar Belhimer, for his part, convened with official media to discuss the promotion plan for the constitution draft that will be submitted to a referendum in weeks.

Abdul Razzaq Muqri, the Head of the MSP, criticized Sunday pro-Bouteflika parties expressing support to Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, saying that the quota system in the parliament has disrupted political work.

in addition, he noted that the figures and loyalists of Bouteflika were returning to the political scene in the country.

Muqri was hinting at a meeting that was held by a leader from the Democratic National Alliance and attended by several activists who were urging Bouteflika to run for a fifth candidacy. During the meeting, the constitution bill was discussed in addition to the promotion plan and the mobilization of university students, women, and farmers.

Notably, the Assembly was led by former Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia who was sentenced 15 years in prison for corruption. A month ago, Tayeb Zitouni who showed support to Tebboune’s policies became in charge.

In a related context, the Minister of Communication met on Saturday directors of the government newspapers to provide them with a thorough explanation of the key axes of the constitution amendment bill.

Belhimer affirmed that the ministry’s role in publicity was restricted to providing logistics.



Sudan's RSF Conducts First Drone Attack on Port Sudan

Smoke rises from the airport of Port Sudan following reported attacks early on May 4, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Smoke rises from the airport of Port Sudan following reported attacks early on May 4, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
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Sudan's RSF Conducts First Drone Attack on Port Sudan

Smoke rises from the airport of Port Sudan following reported attacks early on May 4, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Smoke rises from the airport of Port Sudan following reported attacks early on May 4, 2025. (Photo by AFP)

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) carried out a drone attack on a military air base and other facilities in the vicinity of Port Sudan Airport, a Sudanese army spokesperson said on Sunday, in the first RSF attack to reach the eastern port city.
No casualties were reported from the attacks, the spokesperson said.
The RSF has not commented on the incident, Reuters said.
The RSF has targeted power stations in army-controlled locations in central and northern Sudan for the past several months but the strikes had not inflicted heavy casualties.
The drone attack on Port Sudan indicates a major shift in the two-year conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF. The eastern regions, which shelter a large number of displaced people, had so far avoided bombardment.
The army has responded by beefing up its deployment around vital facilities in Port Sudan and has closed roads leading to the presidential palace and army command.
Port Sudan, home to the country's primary airport, army headquarters and a seaport, has been perceived as the safest place in the war-ravaged nation.
In March, the army ousted the RSF from its last footholds in Khartoum, Sudan's capital, but the paramilitary RSF holds some areas in Omdurman, directly across the Nile River, and has consolidated its position in west Sudan, splitting the nation into rival zones.
The conflict between the army and the RSF has unleashed waves of ethnic violence and created what the United Nations calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with several areas plunged into famine.
The war erupted in April 2023 amid a power struggle between the army and RSF ahead of a planned transition to civilian rule. It ruined much of Khartoum, uprooted more than 12 million Sudanese from their homes and left about half of the 50 million population suffering from acute hunger.
Overall deaths are hard to estimate but a study published last year said the toll may have reached 61,000 in Khartoum state alone in the first 14 months of the conflict.