Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika Has Officially Stepped Down
His resignation comes after weeks of mass anti-government protests.
After weeks of anti-government protests, Algeria's president Abdelaziz Bouteflika has agreed to step down.
The ailing leader, who has been in office for 20 years, announced on Monday that he would be leaving office by the end of the month.
Protests began last month after the leader announced his plans to run for a fifth term in office. Since, support from within his administration has also declined significantly, with the army chief of staff declaring him unfit to rule last week, as reported in the New York Times.
Earlier this month, he abandoned plans to seek a fifth term in response to public outcry, and announced a major "restructuring" of the government, but notified the Constitutional Council of his official resignation on Tuesday.
"There will be no fifth term," Bouteflika was quoted as saying in a statement at the time. "There was never any question of it for me. Given my state of health and age, my last duty towards the Algerian people was always contributing to the foundation of a new Republic."
While demonstrators had been calling for Bouteflika to step down, his initial announcement appeared haphazard to some, who demanded that he step down immediately. Young protestors also who are also pushing for a complete change in the country's governmental system.
Bouteflika's health has been deteriorating since suffering a stroke in 2013. He has not addressed the country publicly since.
Folks have been responding, mostly favorably to the news online. Though many are unsure of how the transference to new leadership will proceed.