The purpose of the governmental reshuffle conducted by Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika was to arrange the situation before facing more than one development, from the presidential elections to Algeria's return to the African and Maghreb scenes after its influence retreated. And it was no coincidence that once this reshuffle was concluded, Algeria undertook mediation between the ruling Islamic Ennahda Movement in Tunisia and the Tunisian opposition, despite the fact that this effort had been previously set up. On the other hand, the nomination of former African Union Peace and Security Commissioner Ramtane Lamamra as his country's diplomacy chief, pointed to the fact that priority was given to the African space, which was always considered among the axes of Algerian diplomacy's golden age, especially in light of Algeria's failure to play a greater role on which it was relying in the Sahel region south of the Sahara and particularly in Mali. In addition to the retreat of Algerian influence on the African scene, its handling of the Maghreb and Arab files distanced it from the circle of influence it had been seeking. Later on, its attention shifted inward following President Bouteflika's illness, and it became preoccupied with the domestic situation which exploded in the shape of conflicts affecting the leaders of the Liberation Front and the increase of the opposition's pressures to prevent the president from running for a fourth term. This would explain the selection of Chairman of the Constitutional Council Tayeb Belaiz to assume the Interior Ministry portfolio, considering that the latter Ministry is responsible for all elections, while Belaiz is a figure close to President Bouteflika who is trying to combine internal and external weight with the support of a military wing led by influential General Ahmed Gaid Salah whom he appointed as Deputy Defense Minister with wide prerogatives, which would affect vital military and security sectors. On the other hand, the reemergence of the stability file was seen in the new alliance between the presidency and the army, after heeding the lessons of the Arab action that set the streets ablaze. Hence, by imposing military control and opening up to the Islamic movements, Algeria wants to give the impression it is standing in the middle between what is happening in Egypt and what is happening in Tunisia. It believes that its bitter experience in containing the influence of the extremist movements is one that could be refined, and this is the message it tried to deliver via its mediation at the level of the Tunisian crisis. And brandishing this role does not exclude the tense situation on its southern border, in the Sahel and Sahara regions. Clearly, the instatement of the pillars of stability on the security, military and political levels aimed to shed light on the role played by President Bouteflika since his first mandate, considering he was the first civilian president to lead the country out of the bottleneck after ten years of destructive violence. In other words, setting up the climate for the presidential elections is focusing on an internal and external axis, to pave the way before the continuation of the option represented by Bouteflika and his men, whether he decides to run for a fourth term or chooses a successor who will not destroy the temple over its visitors' heads. But this remains linked to the consecutive developments, and whether Bouteflika's opponents will stay on the bench or see new chapters of the unannounced conflict unfolding. At its core, the purpose of the reshuffle was to answer the major question surrounding Bouteflika's candidacy for another term. But instead of seeing this issue settled constitutionally, the existing disputes created a situation pointing to the man's wide influence within the state, regardless of whether this is related to an ambition based on health and political factors, or mere submission to another authority that does not wish to be in the forefront. And it is likely that the role which will be played by General Ahmed Gaid Salah, who is now perceived as the undisputed strongman, will push the events in a direction that is satisfying to all the sides of the conflict. Ever since Algeria was established, the military institution has been playing a greater role than any political actor and choosing presidents from its barracks. But since this recipe is no longer acceptable, it now grants or strips whichever civilian president of its support, but in the context of a game of soft gloves concealing the heavy steps of military feet heard by ears capable of detecting vibes and whispers. Is this a reshuffle in the shape of a coup, or a coup in the shape of a reshuffle? The upcoming events will reveal the answer.
