Campaign manager: Boutiflika has taken Algeria from darkness into light

Algeria’s presidential campaign concluded on Sunday marked by the unprecedented absence of incumbent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika from the campaign trail. Bouteflika is running for a fourth term despite his ailing health following a stroke last year.

Bouteflika did not even attend the final campaign rally organised by his campaign manager and former Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal on Sunday in Algiers amidst the heavy presence of his supporters. Instead, Sellal praised Bouteflika saying the man “took Algeria from darkness into light”, and urged the Algerians to vote for his candidate.

However, Bouteflika did make a rare public appearance on Saturday during his meeting with Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo and he took advantage of the occasion to accuse his main rival, former Prime Minister Ali Benflis, of fomenting violence on the campaign trail.

On Sunday, Sellal described the presidential election as a “fateful date for democracy in Algeria” and claimed history will prove that Algerians want their country strong and unified.

Sellal also addressed Bouteflika’s rivals, warning them that: “We will not allow anyone to threaten us. Those who disagree with us can go to the ballot boxes and take their right.”

“We want the best for Algeria. We do not advocate for exclusion and our hand remains outstretched,” Sellal concluded.