Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ALGIERS1912
2006-10-30 16:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Algiers
Cable title:
BOUTEFLIKA MAKES A SHOW OF FIRING GOVERNOR FOR
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 001912
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2026
TAGS: PGOV EINV AG
SUBJECT: BOUTEFLIKA MAKES A SHOW OF FIRING GOVERNOR FOR
CORRUPTION
Classified By: DCM Thomas F. Daughton; reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 001912
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2026
TAGS: PGOV EINV AG
SUBJECT: BOUTEFLIKA MAKES A SHOW OF FIRING GOVERNOR FOR
CORRUPTION
Classified By: DCM Thomas F. Daughton; reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
1. (U) In an October 28 communique read on national
television and covered widely in the press, President
Bouteflika fired Djillali Araar, the wali (governor) of
El-Tarf province in northeastern Algeria. While the
communique did not indicate the reason for Araar's dismissal,
he was recently charged with corruption and misuse of public
funds. The dismissal came on the heels of the return of
Justice Minister Tayeb Belaiz from a conference on corruption
held in China. It also came soon after Araar told reporters
that he would not resign and would leave only if the
president told him to.
2. (U) Araar has been under a cloud of suspicion for several
months. According to press reports confirmed by Embassy
contacts, an investigation begun in January of transactions
involving the El-Tarf provincial government uncovered, among
other problems, bogus projects, corruption, overbilling and
contract awards that did not follow proper procedures. In
June, Araar appeared in court in Annaba for the first time
since the inquiry began. His court appearances will become
more frequent in the coming months, and his case is expected
to rise to the level of the Algerian Supreme Court.
3. (C) An aide at the presidency who contributed to the
communique told us President Bouteflika wanted the firing of
Araar to signal that corrupt practices would not be
tolerated. A Ministry of Religious Affairs official recently
commented privately that it was important, in the lead-up
both to an expected referendum on constitutional change and
to May 2007 parliamentary elections, to show that the
government was tough on corruption. He said Algerians still
perceived the Islamists as less corrupt -- an image the
government had to fight.
4. (C) Comment: The dismissal of a governor for corruption
makes good copy for the newspapers, but Araar's firing was
more than mere show. He joined the walis of Blida and Oran
to become the third in 18 months to be sacked on suspicion of
corruption. Senior government officials recognize that
corruption remains a major impediment to economic reform and
foreign investment. Politically, ordinary Algerians'
continuing perception that the Islamists have clean hands --
at least in this regard -- is compelling the government to
make the most of its high-profile dismissals in advance of
upcoming elections.
FORD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2026
TAGS: PGOV EINV AG
SUBJECT: BOUTEFLIKA MAKES A SHOW OF FIRING GOVERNOR FOR
CORRUPTION
Classified By: DCM Thomas F. Daughton; reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
1. (U) In an October 28 communique read on national
television and covered widely in the press, President
Bouteflika fired Djillali Araar, the wali (governor) of
El-Tarf province in northeastern Algeria. While the
communique did not indicate the reason for Araar's dismissal,
he was recently charged with corruption and misuse of public
funds. The dismissal came on the heels of the return of
Justice Minister Tayeb Belaiz from a conference on corruption
held in China. It also came soon after Araar told reporters
that he would not resign and would leave only if the
president told him to.
2. (U) Araar has been under a cloud of suspicion for several
months. According to press reports confirmed by Embassy
contacts, an investigation begun in January of transactions
involving the El-Tarf provincial government uncovered, among
other problems, bogus projects, corruption, overbilling and
contract awards that did not follow proper procedures. In
June, Araar appeared in court in Annaba for the first time
since the inquiry began. His court appearances will become
more frequent in the coming months, and his case is expected
to rise to the level of the Algerian Supreme Court.
3. (C) An aide at the presidency who contributed to the
communique told us President Bouteflika wanted the firing of
Araar to signal that corrupt practices would not be
tolerated. A Ministry of Religious Affairs official recently
commented privately that it was important, in the lead-up
both to an expected referendum on constitutional change and
to May 2007 parliamentary elections, to show that the
government was tough on corruption. He said Algerians still
perceived the Islamists as less corrupt -- an image the
government had to fight.
4. (C) Comment: The dismissal of a governor for corruption
makes good copy for the newspapers, but Araar's firing was
more than mere show. He joined the walis of Blida and Oran
to become the third in 18 months to be sacked on suspicion of
corruption. Senior government officials recognize that
corruption remains a major impediment to economic reform and
foreign investment. Politically, ordinary Algerians'
continuing perception that the Islamists have clean hands --
at least in this regard -- is compelling the government to
make the most of its high-profile dismissals in advance of
upcoming elections.
FORD