Algeria President Tebboune replaces 16 governors in cabinet reshuffle

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune terminated the duties of 16 governors on Wednesday coinciding with massive government changes in recent days.

Three delegated governors were also replaced in the shock move, and 10 governors were moved to other states.

One major change was the appointment of MP Abdelnour Rabhi as the new governor of the capital, Algiers, replacing Ahmed Moabed, who was moved to the neighbouring Blida province.

Tebboune did not give reasons for the reshuffle.

Since December 2019, Algeria is administratively divided into 58 provinces, known as wilayas.

The position of governor in Algeria is very important and serves as head of the executive authority in the province. The governor is also representative of the president in their state.

Wednesday's decision comes days after a cabinet reshuffle that included six ministerial portfolios, including the interior minister.

Mass protests in Algeria led to the downfall of long-serving President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in 2019 with some changed to the military-led government.

These democratic wins appear to have taken a step back since the appointment of Tebboune as president with repression of the Hirak protest movement.