Author: Ali Boukhlef

After months of anticipation, Algeria’s National Independent Authority for Elections (ANIE) has finally revealed the official list of candidates set to compete in the upcoming presidential election on 7 September. The current president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, will go head-to-head with Youcef Aouchiche of the Socialist Forces Front (FFS) and Abdelaali Hassani Cherif of the Movement of Society for Peace (MSP). Thirteen candidates were disqualified for failing to gather the required sponsorship signatures, including Zoubida Assoul, a former magistrate known for her role in the Hirak movement. The campaign process faced challenges, with activists citing citizen’s fears of backlash for supporting anti-government…