ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has been declared the winner of Algeria’s presidential election, giving him a new term as leader of the gas-rich North African country, five years after his predecessor was ousted by pro-democracy protests.
In a result that surprised few observers internationally or in Algeria, the country’s independent electoral authority announced Sunday that Tebboune had won 94% of the vote, far outpacing his challengers, Islamist Abdelali Hassani Cherif, who won 3%, and socialist Youcef Aouchiche, who won 2.1%.
Election officials said fewer than 6 million of the country’s 24 million voters turned out Saturday, continuing the low turnout that marked Tebboune’s first term and raising questions about his popular support.
Algeria is the largest country in Africa by area and with almost 45 million people it is the second most populous country on the continent after South Africa to hold presidential elections in 2024 – a year in which more than 50 elections are held all over the world and involve more than half of the world’s population.
Throughout the campaign, activists and international organizations, including Amnesty International, have spoken out strongly against the repressive atmosphere of the campaign season and the intimidation and persecution of people involved in opposition parties, media organizations and civil society groups. has condemned this election as a stamping exercise that can only confirm the status quo.
However, Tebboune and his two challengers both pushed for political participation and specifically targeted Algerian youth, who make up the majority of the population and suffer disproportionately from poverty and unemployment.
