Ouyahia’s shadow in Algiers while he is in Mauritania

About 1,400 people present in the RND’s 4th conference Tuesday shouted the name of the party’s former leader Ahmed Ouyahia although he was in Mauritania.

It was clear on Tuesday that the RND’s members are still influenced by Ouyahia as they applauded and repeated his name to show admiration.  

Ouyahia is in Mauritania on a mission for the African Union and he is expected to attend the conference closing on Thursday.

Abdelakder Bensaleh was elected as the RND’s new Secretary General by the majority of the party’s members.

In his opening address, Bensaleh did not talk about President Bouteflika’s fourth term, saying the RND seizes the opportunity to confirm its position toward Bouteflika. “It will always support him and is ready to continue his process he had chosen and committed to since 1999.”

“Because of that, the RND will be there in the next step,” he added.

Spokeswoman for the party Nouara Saadia Djaafar said in a press conference that the RND is ready to conduct an electoral campaign for President Bouteflika because the party is for stability and continuous reforms and development process.