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Algeria Awaits Prosecution of New Batch of Bouteflika Era Ministers

Part of the demonstrations demanding the trial of Bouteflika regime officials in the center of Algiers (AFP)
Part of the demonstrations demanding the trial of Bouteflika regime officials in the center of Algiers (AFP)
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Algeria Awaits Prosecution of New Batch of Bouteflika Era Ministers

Part of the demonstrations demanding the trial of Bouteflika regime officials in the center of Algiers (AFP)
Part of the demonstrations demanding the trial of Bouteflika regime officials in the center of Algiers (AFP)

Political corridors in Algeria are living in anticipation of a new group of senior officials from the former President Abdulaziz Bouteflika era being brought before justice after the conclusion of graft and corruption investigations.

Two ex-prime ministers, several former ministers, and business tycoons have been brought under the scope for misconduct in vital sectors of the North African state’s economy.

Some were jailed in 2019 after the judiciary convicted them of first-degree crimes, while others are still awaiting trial.

“A new group of former officials in government agencies will soon be summoned before investigative judges of the Supreme Court (the highest body in the civil judiciary),” a well-informed judiciary source, who requested anonymity, told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“Others will be summoned to the courts of the first instance to respond to suspicions of corruption, mismanagement, and squandering of public money,” they added.

“Most of them were named during the interrogation of former officials, who were convicted by the judiciary in the past two years to prison,” the source added.

Last Thursday, the judiciary placed former Finance Minister Arezki Berraki in pretrial detention.

He was placed in custody based on charges of mismanaging water dams.

Taher Khawa, who served as the Minister of Relations with Parliament, was also imprisoned for forging official documents.

The most famous officials from the Bouteflika regime sentenced by the judiciary include former Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, Abdelmalek Sellal, Said Barakat, and Jamal Ould Abbas.

They were each given imprisonment sentences varying between 10 to 15 years. Some were also put on death row.

All judicial observers of the prosecution and investigative judges stated that the suspects claimed having implemented President Bouteflika’s decisions and policies, the source told Asharq Al-Awsat.

They were quoted as saying that rejecting the president’s decisions in managing mega deals and projects would have led to their dismissal and prosecution, the source added.

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Israeli Military Recovers Body of a Hostage in Gaza, Is Examining Identity of a Second Body

Palestinians inspect damaged residential buildings where two Israeli hostages were reportedly held before being rescued during an operation by Israeli security forces in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on Feb. 12, 2024. (AP)
Palestinians inspect damaged residential buildings where two Israeli hostages were reportedly held before being rescued during an operation by Israeli security forces in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on Feb. 12, 2024. (AP)
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Israeli Military Recovers Body of a Hostage in Gaza, Is Examining Identity of a Second Body

Palestinians inspect damaged residential buildings where two Israeli hostages were reportedly held before being rescued during an operation by Israeli security forces in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on Feb. 12, 2024. (AP)
Palestinians inspect damaged residential buildings where two Israeli hostages were reportedly held before being rescued during an operation by Israeli security forces in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on Feb. 12, 2024. (AP)

The Israeli military said Wednesday that troops have recovered the body of a hostage held in Gaza and were examining whether another body recovered was also that of a captive.

Earlier, Israel's defense minister said that troops recovered the bodies of two hostages.

The military said the body of Yosef Al Zaydani was brought to Israel on Tuesday after being discovered in an underground tunnel near the southern Gaza city of Rafah. It said troops uncovered information about Al Zaydani's son Hamzah that "raised serious concerns for his life."

Military spokesman Col. Nadav Shoshani said the military was looking into the identity of a second set of remains recovered.

Al Zaydani and his son were taken captive during Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7, 2023, among 250 hostages snatched by the group during its cross-border raid.

Israel believes a third of the remaining 100 hostages are dead.

The body's recovery comes as Israel and Hamas are considering a ceasefire deal that would free the hostages and halt the fighting in Gaza.

However, Yosef and Hamzah Al Zaydani were believed to still be alive and their return could ramp up the pressure on Israel to move ahead on a deal.

Yosef Al Zaydani's name was on a list of 34 hostages shared by a Hamas official with The Associated Press that the group said were slated for release.

Many families of hostages say the continuation of the war in Gaza puts the lives of the remaining hostages at risk. They have demanded throughout the conflict that Israel reaches a deal with Hamas to free their loved ones.