UAE leaders offer condolences after death of former Algerian president
The late Algerian president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, had a close relationship with Sheikh Zayed ben Sultan Al Nahyane, the founder of the United Arab Emirates, said Sheikh Mohammed ben Zayed Al Nahyane, crown prince of Abou Dabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE armed forces.
Sheikh Mohammed ben Zayed Al Nahyane tweeted on Sunday: “Abdelaziz Bouteflika, former president of Algeria and one of its national symbols, has shown mercy.”
In a eulogy to the former Algerian president, he added : “His close relationship with Sheikh Zayed contributed to strengthening the brotherly relations between the two countries.”
Sheikh Mohammed offered his “sincere condolences to the government and people of Algeria and to his family.”
On Saturday, UAE President Sheikh Khalifa ben Zayed Al Nahyane sent a message of condolences to his Algerian counterpart President Abdelmadjid Tebboune over the death of Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
Sheikh Mohammed ben Rachid Al Maktoum, UAE vice president and prime minister and ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohammed ben Zayed Al Nahyane, crown prince of Abou Dabi and deputy supreme commander of the armed forces, sent similar messages of condolences to President Tebboune.
The Algerian presidency announced at dawn on Saturday the death of former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika at the age of 84.
Bouteflika’s health deteriorated during his time as president, and since 2013, he has been wheelchair-bound after suffering from a spike in blood pressure that paralyzed him, according to the Algerian presidency at the time.
