Tebboune won his re-election by an overwhelming margin, but election officials reported fewer than 6 million out of the 24 million eligible adults voted.
ADVERTISEMENTAlgeria President Abdelmadjid Tebboune was named the decisive winner of the presidential election on Sunday, a result that surprised few.
The independent election authority on Sunday announced that Tebboune had won 94% of the vote, far outpacing his challengers: Islamist Abdelali Hassani Cherif, who won 3.2% and socialist Youcef Aouchiche, who won 2.2%.
Election officials reported that less than 6 million of the country's 24 million voters had turned out to vote on Saturday, perpetuating the low voter turnout rates that marred Tebboune's first term and raising questions about his popular support. Such high abstention rates, which remain unofficial, would surpass the 2019 presidential election when 39.9% of the electorate participated.
The victory grants the 78-year-old another term leading the gas-rich North African nation five years after pro-democracy protests led to the ouster of his predecessor. If he manages to finish his second term in office, he will be 83.
Algeria is Africa's largest country by area, and with almost 45 million people, it's the continent's second most populous after South Africa to hold presidential elections in 2024. It's also a year in which more than 50 elections are being held worldwide, encompassing more than half the world's population.
The campaign — rescheduled earlier this year to take place during North Africa's hot summer — was characterised by apathy from the population, which continues to be plagued by high costs of living and drought that brought water shortages to some parts of the country.
“Uncle Tebboune," as his campaign framed the 78-year-old, was elected in December 2019 after nearly a year of weekly “Hirak” demonstrations demanding the resignation of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Their demands were met when Bouteflika resigned and was replaced by an interim government of his former allies, which called for elections later in the year.
Protestors opposed holding elections too soon, fearing candidates running that year each were close to the old regime and would derail dreams of a civilian-led, non-military state.
Tebboune, a former prime minister seen as close to the military, won. But his victory was stained by boycotts and election day tumult, during which crowds sacked voting stations and police broke up demonstrations.
'It's the long game'
Throughout his tenure, Tebboune has used oil and gas revenue to boost some social benefits — including unemployment insurance as well as public wages and pensions — to calm discontent.
To cement his legitimacy, Tebboune hopes more of the country's 24 million eligible voters participate in Saturday's election than in his first, when only 39.9% voted.
Many of the last election's boycotters remain unconvinced about elections ushering in change.
Activists and international organisations have railed against how authorities continue prosecuting those involved in opposition parties, media organizations and civil society groups. Amnesty International last week condemned Algeria’s “brutal crackdown on human rights including the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association in the run up to the country’s presidential elections.”
Some have denounced this election as a rubber stamp exercise that can only entrench the status quo.
“Algerians don’t care about this bogus election,” said former Hirak leader Hakim Addad, who was banned from participating in politics three years ago. “The political crisis will persist as long as the regime remains in place. The Hirak has spoken.”
ADVERTISEMENTTwenty-six candidates submitted preliminary paperwork to run in the election, although only two were ultimately approved to challenge Tebboune.
Neither political novices, they avoided directly criticising Tebboune on the campaign trail and, like the incumbent, emphasised participation.
Cherif, the head of the Islamist party Movement of Society for Peace (MSP), made populist appeals to Algerian youth, running on the slogan “Opportunity,” Aouchiche, a former journalist running with the Socialist Forces Front (FFS), campaigned on a “vision for tomorrow”.
Both challengers and their parties risked losing support from would-be supporters who thought they were selling out by supporting the idea that the election was democratic and contested.
ADVERTISEMENTAndrew Farrand, the Middle East and North Africa director at the geopolitical risk consultancy Horizon Engage, said both challengers were more aimed at the 2025 legislative elections than the 2024 presidential contest.
Because Algerian law funds political parties based on the number of seats they win in legislative elections, they hope campaigning positions them for a strong 2025 performance.
“It’s a long game: How can I mobilise my base? How can I build up a campaign machine? And how can I get into the good graces of the authorities so that I can be in a position to increase my seats?” he said.
“We’ve seen that in their choice not to overtly criticise president, paired with a very strong message to Algerians to come out and vote.”
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