The Presidency of the Republic announced in a statement the passing of former President Liamine Zéroual, who died on Saturday at the age of 85 at the Mohamed Seghir Nekkache Military Hospital in the capital, following a long illness.
Liamine Zéroual was born in 1941 in the city of Batna. He joined the National Liberation Army and participated in the liberation war between 1957 and 1962.
After independence, he received military training in the Soviet Union and then at the French War College in 1974. The former president also held several responsibilities within the People’s National Army.
He was appointed commander of the military school in Batna, then the Military Academy in Cherchell, before taking command of the sixth, third, and fifth military regions. He was later appointed Commander of the Land Forces in the General Staff of the People’s National Army.
Zéroual was appointed Head of State on January 31, 1994, by the High Council of State, and was subsequently elected President of Algeria on November 16, 1995.
In September 1998, Zéroual announced the shortening of his presidential term and the organization of early presidential elections, concluding his duties on April 27, 1999.
