Sun Sep 08 08:14:21 UTC 2024: – Polls closed in Algeria as voters were deciding whether to grant army-backed President Abdelmadjid Tebboune another term
– Voter turnout was low, with polling places in Algiers mostly empty throughout the day
– Vote counting has begun and preliminary results are expected late Saturday night or early Sunday morning
– Tebboune’s campaign characterized by apathy from the population due to high costs of living and drought
– Tebboune was elected in December 2019 after protests led to the ousting of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
– Many remain unconvinced about elections ushering in change and have boycotted the current election
– Twenty-six candidates initially submitted paperwork to run, but only two were approved to challenge Tebboune
– Critics have denounced the election as a rubber stamp exercise that can only entrench the status quo

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