Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika issued a stark warning about potential unrest as opposition to his re-election bid grew, citing concerns about external forces seeking to destabilize peaceful demonstrations.
The 82-year-old leader, who has been receiving medical treatment in Switzerland since late February, addressed the issue through a statement released by the official APS news agency. He cautioned that 'troublemakers' might attempt to disrupt protests to incite turmoil, though he did not directly address the core demand for his withdrawal from the April 18 presidential race.
Bouteflika's remarks echoed broader fears among Algerian officials about repeating the country's 1990s civil war, which claimed thousands of lives. He also referenced 'crises and tragedies caused by terrorism' in neighboring states, despite Algeria's relative stability compared to other Arab Spring uprisings.
Protests have occurred nearly daily in Algiers since late February, defying a longstanding ban on demonstrations dating to 2001. The veteran leader, who has used a wheelchair since a 2013 stroke, has rarely appeared publicly in recent years.
