Ahmed Gaid Salah

Ahmed Gaid Salah was appointed Chief of Staff of the Algerian People's National Army in 2004. He became the most powerful military figure in Algeria, overseeing the armed forces for over a decade under President Bouteflika.

On March 26, 2019, Gaid Salah publicly called for President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to resign, citing the need to end the political crisis sparked by the Hirak protests. This marked a turning point, as the military withdrew support from Bouteflika.

After Bouteflika's resignation on April 2, 2019, Gaid Salah became the de facto power broker in Algeria. He oversaw the arrest of key Bouteflika allies on corruption charges and the organization of a presidential election in December 2019.