Lieutenant-general Ahmed Gaid Salah of the Algerian army has died of a heart attack at the age of 79, the presidency in Algiers announced on Monday.
Salah was Deputy Minister of National Defense, Chief of Staff of the National People’s Army (PNA),.
“Following the death of the mujahedeen, General Ahmed Gaid Salah, the President of the Republic, Minister of National Defense, Supreme Head of the Armed Forces, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, declares three days of national mourning and seven days for the ANP institution”, the statement from the presidency said.
Salah’s death comes three days after the controversial swearing-in of Algeria’s new president Abdelmadjid Tebboun.
Thrown into the spotlight after forcing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to resign in April, General Gaid Salah was the face of the military high command, who openly assumed real power until the December 12 election of Tebboune as new head of state.
Major General Said Chengriha, Commander of the Ground Forces, has been appointed Acting Chief of staff of the PNA to replace the late General Ahmed Gaid Salah.
HA/fss/as/APA