Algerian President Sacks Transport Minister Over 'Grave Misconduct'

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (Reuters)
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (Reuters)
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Algerian President Sacks Transport Minister Over 'Grave Misconduct'

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (Reuters)
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (Reuters)

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune dismissed the minister of transport for "grave misconduct" in exercising his duties. No further details were provided.

Reasons for such moves are rarely publicized in Algeria, and he is the second transport minister to be sacked since the president took office in December 2019.

"Today, the President of the Republic Abdelmadjid Tebboune terminated the duties of the Minister of Transport, Aissa Bekkai, for committing a grave error in the exercise of his duties," the Algerian presidency announced.

Bekkai, 57, had held the position since July 2021. He previously served as deputy minister in charge of foreign trade in the first government of Tebboune's presidency that was appointed in January 2020.

Minister of Public Works Kamal Nasri was assigned as his acting replacement.

Bekkai's dismissal comes after the Ministry of Transport announced the operation of more than 100 additional international flights for the national airline, Air Algérie, starting March 15. Flights had been reduced to a minimum as part of coronavirus-related restrictions.

Lazhar Hani was sacked as transport minister in January 2021, along with the CEO of the state-owned airline Air Algerie for "importing banned goods" in violation of orders to prioritize local production and reduce imports.

The supplies were related to the catering activity onboard, when the airline was shut due to the pandemic and faced financial difficulties.



Palestinians Must Not Be Expelled from Gaza, Berlin Says After Trump Comments 

Internally displaced Palestinians make their way from southern to northern Gaza along Al-Rashid road, central Gaza Strip, 27 January 2025. (EPA)
Internally displaced Palestinians make their way from southern to northern Gaza along Al-Rashid road, central Gaza Strip, 27 January 2025. (EPA)
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Palestinians Must Not Be Expelled from Gaza, Berlin Says After Trump Comments 

Internally displaced Palestinians make their way from southern to northern Gaza along Al-Rashid road, central Gaza Strip, 27 January 2025. (EPA)
Internally displaced Palestinians make their way from southern to northern Gaza along Al-Rashid road, central Gaza Strip, 27 January 2025. (EPA)

The Palestinian population must not be expelled from Gaza, the German foreign ministry said on Monday after US President Donald Trump said Jordan and Egypt should take in Palestinians.

Asked for a reaction to Trump's comments, a foreign ministry spokesperson said Berlin shared the view of "the European Union, our Arab partners, the United Nations ... that the Palestinian population must not be expelled from Gaza and Gaza must not be permanently occupied or recolonized by Israel."

Jordan is already home to several million Palestinians, while tens of thousands live in Egypt. Both countries and other Arab nations reject the idea of Palestinians in Gaza being moved to their countries. Gaza is land that Palestinians would want as part of a future Palestinian state.