Algeria: Ailing President Bouteflika marks 80th birthday

With Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in London and President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe in Singapore – both reportedly seeking health care in the high-profile spotlight – it’s little wonder that less attention has been focused on Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the president of Algeria. Bouteflika celebrates his 80th birthday on Thursday, amid…

Brahimi’s appeal on Algeria-Morocco ties gets the cold shoulder

Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi has called for a reopening of the border between Morocco and Algeria in the context of regional cooperation, but that overture was quickly rebuffed by some in the latter country’s media outlets. Brahimi, a well-regarded elder statesman with close ties to Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, suggested…

Algeria: Budget plans add to political, economic tensions

Algerian teachers and medical workers are threatening strikes as the country’s economic woes linger amid low oil prices, and the government proposes tax hikes and salary freezes to stretch the budget. The three-year economic plan released last month also considers reduced food subsidies, with increases in bread and milk prices. Algerian…

Nigeria’s Barkindo appeals for OPEC output cooperation

African economies dependent on oil revenues continue to struggle with high supply levels and low prices, as representatives of OPEC nations meeting in Algeria Tuesday said it will be November before any decision to limit output and stabilize markets could have an impact on their ailing budgets. Nigerian Mohammad Barkindo,…