President, who has not publicly addressed the country for nearly three years

 

Algeria's president, who has not publicly addressed the country for nearly three years, will be running for a fourth term in April. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, 76, who suffered a stroke last year and critics say he is still too ill to govern. His candidature was announced by Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal. "Even if he has not completely recovered physically, I can assure you he is in possession of all his mental and intellectual faculties," he said. See me see wahala inside African. Read more...

Algeria has the largest land area of any African state, is rich in oil and gas, and under President Bouteflika has been an ally of the US.
The president, in power since 1999, is one of the few remaining veterans of the war of independence against France.
He is credited by his supporters with curbing a brutal insurgency by Islamist extremists and restoring economic stability.
But he has had persistent health problems and his rule has recently been dogged by corruption scandals implicating members of his inner circle.