Algerian Court Sentences Former Presidential Protocol Chief to Five Years in Prison

Watan-The Algerian judiciary has sentenced Mohamed Bouakkaz, the former protocol chief and advisor at the Presidency, to five years in prison and a fine of 200,000 Algerian dinars. He was prosecuted on charges of illicit enrichment and abuse of office.

The Bir Mourad Rais court in Algiers also ordered Bouakkaz to pay one million dinars in damages to the state treasury’s legal representative. The ruling comes about two weeks after his court appearance on April 9, during which he was questioned about owning several properties and apartments in the capital, as well as luxury watches suspected to have been acquired through illicit means.

During his interrogation, Bouakkaz denied the charges, stating he had declared all his assets in accordance with the law. He defended himself by highlighting his role in organizing recent major events hosted by Algeria, such as the Arab League and Gas Exporting Countries Summits. However, the prosecution rejected these defenses and requested a ten-year prison sentence.

Bouakkaz was placed in pretrial detention on October 11, 2024, after extensive investigations into his wealth and network of connections, with both local and international media describing the findings as “serious.” This followed a June 7, 2024, presidential decree by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, which terminated his duties, citing “serious misconduct” — a move that sparked widespread controversy at the time.

Bouakkaz Dismissal Tied to Secret Investigations

According to Jeune Afrique magazine, the dismissal came after four to five months of confidential investigations into his management of the protocol department and its staff, as well as suspicious personal and financial associations. The report mentioned suspected dealings with disreputable businessmen and a questionable relationship with an Algerian woman residing between Turkey and the UAE, raising national security concerns due to his close proximity to the president.

Bouakkaz was considered one of President Tebboune’s closest aides since the beginning of his tenure and was frequently seen accompanying him at official events both domestically and abroad. His last public appearance was on May 30, 2024, before he was abruptly removed from office.

Bouakkaz’s career included roles in the Government Palace and as Chief of Protocol to former Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal. He retained his position in Tebboune’s 2017 government until being sidelined during Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia’s term, only to be reinstated following Tebboune’s rise to the presidency in late 2019.

Third Major Corruption Case Under Tebboune

This is the third major corruption case involving a high-ranking official under President Tebboune. About a year ago, former junior minister for small enterprises, Nassim Diafat, was sentenced to five years in prison and fined one million dinars (around $7,000) for exploiting his position for personal and familial gain. His brothers and sister-in-law also received varying prison terms, while his wife was acquitted. Other defendants in the case received sentences ranging from six months to three years.

The accused faced several charges under Algeria’s anti-corruption law, including deliberate embezzlement, illegal use of public assets and funds, granting undue advantages, and money laundering.

Diafat, born in 1983, was part of the youth-focused cabinet reshuffle and came from civil society and entrepreneurial backgrounds, with no prior affiliation to political parties. He was appointed in June 2021, but his ministry was dissolved in September 2022.

In another separate case, former Minister of Water Resources Arezki Berraki was sentenced to ten years in prison for misconduct during his leadership of a public agency — a case predating his tenure in Tebboune’s government.