The Lion of Batna: A general who out-marched power

Courage and integrity are rarely mentioned in the same breath when it comes to discussing Arab rulers and what are essential qualities of leadership. The current crop at the top tend not to measure up in terms of either of them. As if the war in Gaza wasn’t a daily reminder of the lack of moral fibre across the Arab world, I was given a sharp reminder today upon learning of the death of Liamine Zéroual. Unlike most Arab rulers who are so addicted to power that they cannot walk away from the job, Zéroual had no such qualms when he quit as President of Algeria in April 1999. This man was defined by the Algerian Revolution; his spirit burned […]