ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Nonetheless recovering from COVID-19, Algeria’s president all of the sudden reappeared Sunday after almost two months out of the general public eye, saying in a video message that it might nonetheless be a number of extra weeks earlier than he’s match sufficient to return to his North African nation.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune fell in poor health after which left for remedy in Germany in late October. Earlier than his 4-minute, 54-second video on Sunday, his final public look had been in mid-October, assembly France’s overseas minister when he visited the previous French colony.
The 75-year-old Tebboune spoke clearly within the video and didn’t seem in need of breath even after lengthy phrases. He has, nonetheless, clearly misplaced weight.
“I’ll totally get well my bodily energy in maybe one, two or three weeks,” he mentioned. “I hope to be again amongst you quickly.”
He appeared to talk off-the-cuff, with out notes. He mentioned he had been carefully following the nation’s affairs.
Saturday marked the anniversary of his first year in workplace.
The lengthy absence of the top of state, who additionally serves Algeria’s protection chief, recalled the prolonged disappearances from public view of his predecessor, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, for remedy in France of a stroke in 2013 and later in Switzerland for quite a few medical check-ups, with numerous hypothesis and little info on his whereabouts or well being.
Bouteflika hardly ever appeared in public however saved ruling. He was compelled to desert his bid for a fifth time period final 12 months earlier than being pushed from workplace below stress from road protests and the highly effective military.
Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad has been in cost throughout Tebboune’s absence because the nation struggles with an economic system made worse by the coronavirus and different points.
