An Algerian military court cleared Said Bouteflika, the once-powerful brother of former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, of conspiracy charges on Saturday following a retrial, the official APS agency reported. The once-mighty presidential aide was long seen as the real power running the North African country after his brother suffered a debilitating stroke in 2013. Despite being cleared, Bouteflika remains in custody and will be transferred to another prison as he awaits a separate trial over alleged corruption during his brother’s rule, a court official said. Said Bouteflika allegedly wanted the intelligence bosses to dismiss the army chief of staff at the time, General Ahmed Gaid Salah. Also on trial were Louisa Hanoune, who had served as secretary general of the Workers’ Party, and General Athmane Tartag.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 02, 2021 15:11 UTC