Former Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who was ousted amid pro-democracy protests in 2019 after two decades in power, has died at age 84, state television announced Friday.

 

 

The report on ENTV, citing a statement from the office of current President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, did not provide the cause of death or information about funeral arrangements.

 

 

Bouteflika had suffered a stroke in 2013 that badly weakened him.

 

 

Concerns about his state of health, kept secret from the Algerian public, helped feed public frustration with his 20-year, corruption-tarnished rule.

 

 

Mass public protests by the Hirak movement led to his departure.

 

 

The protests erupted after he announced plans to run for a fifth term in 2019, and it was the then-army chief who sealed Bouteflika's fate by siding with the demonstrators. Bouteflika had no choice but to step down.