Algeria Replaces Energy Minister

Mustapha Guitouni gave way March 31 to Mohamed Arkab as Algeria's energy minister, following a decision by the president Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Arkab was the head of the public electricity and gas distribution company Sonelgaz, as had been Guitoumi before his elevation to government in May 2017.

This new appointment was part of a ministerial reshuffle to try to put an end to the public protests that have been ongoing since February 22. In total, the new government team consists of 27 members, only six of whom are from the former team.

The first job facing the 53-yr-old mechanical engineer will be to try to quell the mutinous mood that has been rising within state oil and gas company Sonatrach. Its employees have been among those calling publicly for the removal of Bouteflika.

On March 25, an internal company memo indicated that workers who have left work to protest will have their wages reduced. Sonatrach is a major oil and gas producer exporter, the latter commodity reaching world markets through pipelines to Europe or by tanker. It accounts for about a third of the country's gross domestic product.