Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Sunday appointed a new government headed by Noureddine Badawi, who was appointed prime minister on March 11, with 27 ministers, including six from the old team, according to a presidential statement quoted by the official APS news agency.
The list, which was published on state television, showed the army chief of staff, Ahmed Kayed Saleh, remaining in office as deputy defense minister who remained Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
Ramtan Lamamra, who was appointed on March 11, was dismissed as deputy prime minister and foreign minister.
The new government included Salah Eddin Dahmoun, Minister of Interior, Abdelhakim Belaabed, Education Minister Mariam Mardassi, Minister of Culture Hassan Rabhi, Minister of Communication and Government Spokesman, Governor of the Bank of Algeria Mohammad Lokal, Minister of Finance Mohammad Arqab, Minister of Energy Mohammad Mirawi, Minister of Justice, Youssef Belhamdi, Minister of Religious Affairs, Tayeb Bouzid, Minister of Education.
As well as the exclusion of ministers considered by the Algerians as "controversial" and demanded their departure, notably the Minister of Education, Nuria Ben Ghabrit, after five years in the ministry that entered on 5 May 2014.
Algerian Minister of Justice Hafez al-Sekham, who is one of the most prominent faces of the outgoing president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who is also one of the oldest ministers, took office in September 2013.
In addition to Culture Minister Mihoub Mihoubi and Minister of Higher Education Taher Hajjar, whose comments last year sparked controversy in Algeria when he said that "the Algerian university does not need the Nobel Prize."
Meanwhile, press sources in Algeria said that the authorities prevented all private aircraft from flying, in anticipation of the escape of political figures or businessmen from the country.
According to the French-language TSA website, the authorities sent their new instructions to the Directorate of Civil Aviation at all airports in Algeria on Sunday morning.
In a surprise move, Algerian Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Kaid Saleh called yesterday for the application of Article 102 of the Constitution, which stipulates the vacancy of the post of President of the Republic.
Kaid Saleh accused parties of launching a fierce media campaign in various media and social networks against the army and demanded the application of articles 7, 8 and 102 of the constitution against Bouteflika.