Around 100 Algerian top business tycoons, including the leader of Algeria’s business forum, have been put on a blacklist and denied exit from the country amid the gradual decaying of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s regime. The army Chief of Staff, Ahmed Gaid Salah reportedly instructed security forces at airports and other exit points of the country to prevent heads of Algeria’s top companies from leaving. Gaid Salah, who early this week dropped his support for Bouteflika declaring him “inapt” to rule the country, gave a blacklist that names the companies’ leaders and their addresses. Algeria’s business forum leader Ali Haddad, a staunch supporter of Bouteflika, was reportedly banned from leaving the country few days ago, at Algiers airport. Sources told HuffPost Algérie that leaders of state-owned companies are barred from leaving the country expect on written authorization.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 28, 2019 13:18 UTC