President Bouteflika conducts Government reshuffle marked by departure of nine Ministers

The President of the Republic Mr Abdelaziz Bouteflika carried out on Thursday, a partial government reshuffle involving several Cabinet portfolios including the ministries of the Interior and finance.

The reshuffle included Minister of vocational training Noureddine Bedoui as the successor to former Interior Minister Tayeb Belaiz, who was appointed as Special Adviser to the Presidency of the Republic.

The Chairman of the higher Council of the Arab language, Azzedine Mihoubi, was nominated at the head of the Culture Ministry, replacing Mrs Nadia Labidi.

Abderrahmane Benkhalfa was for his part allotted the finance portfolio in replacement of Mohamed Djellab.

For his part, Salah Khiri was appointed Energy Minister in replacement of Youcef Yousfi.

Mohamed Mebarki was appointed as Minister of vocational training while the Rector of the University of Algiers Tahar Hajjar, was named Minister of higher education and scientific research.

Former transport minister Amar Ghoul was for his part appointed at the head of the ministry of land development, tourism and handicraft with a minister delegate in charge of handicraft namely Ms Aicha Tabagou.

President Bouteflika also named Ahmed Noui as the government’s secretary general and Mustapha Karim Rahiel as minister director of the Prime Minister’s office.

The head of the parliamentary group of the National Liberation Front Party (FLN), Tahar Khaoua was for his part designated as Minister for relations with Parliament.

The other cabinet portfolios remained unchanged including those of defense, justice, foreign affairs, national education, trade and religious affairs and endowments.