Silent war between two ministers in Algeria

Universities and schools have been on strike for days amid warnings to paralyze schools after winter holidays. A silent “war” has broken out between the Algerian education minister and the higher education minister fuelled by personal accounts and future ambitions.

Earlier, the education minister Nouria Benghebrit dropped a number of specialties from education recruitment competition exams. This caused protests among students.

According to sources, there is an old conflict between Benghebrit and the higher education minister Mohamed Mebarki. She used to hold the position of anthropological researches center director. He was her chief at that time.

Benghebrit was about to lose her job before she had been appointed as minister and become her chief’s colleague.

This comes as Mebarki rejected a request from Benghebrit to allow about 100 professors to work at her ministry.

In response to that, Benghebrit opened fire on him and accused him implicitly.

All it seems that such behaviors threatens cabinet’s actions.

Earlier, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika condemned such attitude when he addressed State minister Abu Djerra Soltani.