Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has just dismissed Prime Minister Nadir Larbaoui and appointed Sifi Ghrieb in his place, marking the fourth time he has replaced his cabinet chief since taking office in 2019.
This revolving-door approach to leadership, with a new prime minister roughly every two years, reflects a deeper pattern: a blame-shifting strategy that sacrifices heads of government to shield the presidency from accountability.
Tebboune’s tenure has been defined by erratic governance and policy reversals. Each prime minister has been discarded amid crises or public dissatisfaction, allowing Tebboune to deflect criticism while maintaining control.
The latest dismissal follows a tragic bus accident near Algiers that killed 18 people and injured 23. The incident exposed the consequences of import ban policy and long-standing neglect in infrastructure and public safety.
Rather than addressing the root causes, Tebboune has once again opted for a cosmetic fix. Sifi Ghrieb, a physicist with no prior executive experience, now serves as acting prime minister.
The appointment is reflective of a cycle of inconsistency in public policy, where ministers are shuffled, priorities are reset, and long-term planning is sacrificed for short-term political survival.
This instability extends beyond the premiership. Tebboune has reshuffled key ministries multiple times, including finance, industry, foreign affairs, and justice. In early 2025, Finance Minister Laaziz Faid was replaced by Abdelkrim Bouzred, and the pharmaceutical portfolio was reorganized. These moves followed months of economic stagnation and public frustration.
These frequent changes have paralyzed reform efforts and undermined Algeria’s credibility both domestically and abroad.
The president’s decision to ban the import of spare parts and vehicles is widely blamed for the rise in deadly road accidents.
Tebboune’s presidency has become a case study in centralized power without accountability. As public anger grows and calls for responsibility mount, the coming months may determine whether he can finish his term, or whether he becomes the next casualty of his own political tactics.
