The Algerian government has cancelled a scheduled state visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel due to the failing health of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. According to reports, an attack of severe bronchitis suffered by long-ailing Algerian President forced the Algerian government to call off the high-profile meeting at the last minute on Monday. The announcement came just an hour before Merkel’s plane was due to depart Germany while officials were already been lined and flags hoisted in Algiers. According to a government spokesman, the meeting will now be rescheduled for a later date.
A two-day state visit had earlier been scheduled for February 21st to 22nd between the two governments, which will see Angela Merkel meet the president. However, the Prime Minister had been scheduled to be the main government interlocutor for the North African state. The meeting according to reports was scheduled to see talks about the increasing movement of African immigrants to Germany, as well as ways to curb connection and movement by terrorists between Africa and Europe.
The visit was expected to see talks between the two states as regards the political and economic status of Libya. The war-torn North African state has been unstable since long-term leader Muammar Gaddafi was toppled and killed in the Arab spring of 2011.
President Abdelaziz has been rarely seen in public after he suffered a stroke in 2013 which has since confined him to a wheelchair. While there have been reports of improvement of late, the cancellation of the proposed state visit of Merkel has further shown the president health might have deteriorated in recent times. Another stroke attack shortly after the first one forced the president to transfer partial powers to the prime minister who has been the face of the government since 2015.
The new date of the visit will be subject to agreement between the two states.
