Djamal Ould Abbes, the leader of Algeria’s ruling party, National Liberation Front (FLN), resigned on 14 November due to health concerns, state news agency APS said. Ould Abbes is 84 years old and served in the party since 1984 when he was a FLN Deputy. His departure comes at a sensitive time as presidential elections are due in April 2019 and President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s candidature has not been officially confirmed.