Algiers, March 31, 2019 – Ali Haddad, one of Algeria’s top businessmen and a backer of ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, was arrested as he tried to cross into Tunisia, an Algerian security source said Sunday. Haddad, who Forbes magazine describes as one of Algeria’s wealthiest entrepreneurs, was detained overnight at a border post with neighbouring Tunisia, said the source speaking on condition of anonymity. His arrest was also reported by Algeria’s El Watan newspaper and the news website TSA. A judicial source said there were no arrest warrants for the business tycoon and that he did not face any travel ban. Since 2014 Haddad was the president of the Business Leaders Forum, Algeria’s leading employers’ organisation but he quit the post on Thursday as criticism mounted against him for supporting Bouteflika.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 31, 2019 19:30 UTC