Algerian Foreign Ministry: “Competition” between Lamamra and Messahel!

The recent statement issued by the Presidency of the Republic, has consolidated the ongoing controversy triggered by the restructuring of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with Abdelkader Messahel upgraded to a second Minister in one sector, prompting several interpretations by the national public opinion about the background to such decision.

In a previous statement carried earlier this week by the APS news agency, the Presidency of the Republic pinpointed the functions of both Ramtane Lamamra and Abdelkader Messahel, in the recent communiqué announcing the latest government reshuffle, which designated Ramtane Lamamra as a “Minister of foreign affairs” while Abdelkader Messahel was appointed as “Minister for Maghreb and African Affairs and international cooperation “.

However, a latest Presidency statement brought alterations to such nominations saying that  “in accordance with the provisions of article 79 of the Constitution, the President of the Republic issued a Presidential Decree pertaining to the following nominations:  Appointment of Ramtane Lamamra as Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International cooperation and for his part Abdelkader Messahel was finally named Minister for Maghreb and African Union and Arab League affairs”, pulling from him the title of “International cooperation”, which had not previously used in the Foreign Ministry portfolio, and assigned now to Lamamra himself, while Messahel has been entrusted with a new task pertaining to Arab League affairs.

The decision to rearrange the terms between the two Ministers, after a political and media controversy erupted in the trail of the publication of the official statement announcing the last government reshuffle.