ALGERIS - Algeria’s state TV announced early Saturday the death of the former president Abdulaziz Boutflika at age of 84. Bouteflika has held the presidency since 1999 for nearly two decades, as his presidency is considered the longest for Algeria. He is also the seventh president of Algeria after its independence from France in 1962. Bouteflika On April 2, 2019 has officially stepped down from the presidency amid massive protests from the Algerian people due to his assumption of the presidency for the fifth time because of their fear of the deterioration of his health. Abdelkader Bensalah was appointed to head Algeria temporarily as he announced that Algeria is to hold a presidential election on December 12, five months into a political vacuum since longtime leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigned in the face of mass protests. Abdelmadjid Tebboune was appointed President of Algeria on December 19, 2019, becoming the eighth president to rule the country