Algeria: A Second Campaign Of Dismissals Of Bouteflika Era Officials

The Ministry of Post and Telecommunications has carried out a wide-ranging movement of its   provincial Directors, synchronizing, appointing and terminating missions, affecting several provinces, ministries and sectors, with the sacking or transfer of a myriad senior executives appointed under the era of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

According to the information secured by “Echorouk” from well-informed sources, the provincial director of Batna was transferred to the province of Sidi Bel Abbes, while the provincial director of Ain Témouchent was  shifted to the province of Batna, while the provincial director of Biskra was moved to the province of Annaba, while the provincial director of El Bayadh was shifted towards the province of Saida, that of Khenchela towards the province of El Oued, and the provincial director of Saida was transferred to the province of Blida.

Furthermore, the provincial Director of Blida was shifted to the province of Boumerdes, and the provincial Director of Ouargla to the province of Mila. The provincial Director of El Oued was moved to the province of El Bordj, and  the provincial Director of El Bordj to the province of Tiaret, while the provincial  Director of Msila was moved towards Souk Ahras, and the provincial Director of Annaba was transferred towards Tizi Ouzou province.

The reshuffle movement also comprised the transfer of the provincial director of Boumerdes to the south-western province of Béchar, the provincial director of Mostaganem was shifted to the province of Tipaza, while the  provincial director of Djelfa was sent to the province of Tébessa, the  provincial director of Souk Ahras was moved towards El Tarf province, while the  provincial director of El Tarf was transferred to the south-eastern province of Illizi.

According to the same sources, the movement did not affect a number of other provinces such as Skikda, Oum al-Bouagui, Chlef, Ain Defla, Jijel, Tindouf and Tlemcen.

The movement coincides with the continuation of a steady campaign of dismissals and appointments of officials and executives in several ministries and sectors, which the presidency of the Republic initiated about a week ago.

As a recall, in the latest issue of the Official Gazette (No. 41), the acting Head of State has initialed a total of 29 decrees providing for termination of assignments affecting several provinces, sectors and ministries.

Among the sectors concerned, we find the Council of Accounting, Justice, Housing, Public Works and Public Supplies, in addition to the administrative and promotion offices in several provinces of the country.

In the 40th issue of the Official Gazette issued last Thursday, the head of state Mr. Abdelkader Bensaleh signed 35 presidential decrees, including the termination of appointments and assignments in executive positions in several ministries and provinces, in a move which is seemed to do away with the former conduct followed during the Bouteflika era.

Taking into consideration the decrees issued in the last two editions of the Official Gazette, 64 decrees were issued in less than a week, clearly indicating the desire of the authorities to undertake major changes at the level of executive officers of the ministries,  provinces and bodies appointed during  the era of the outgoing President.

It is not unlikely, according to observers, that similar change-oriented decrees will be issued in the coming days affecting other sectors, provinces and official bodies.