Polls close in Algeria’s presidential contest as Tebboune eyes re-election

The president is expected to win five more years in the vote with no surprises anticipated.

Voting has closed in Algeria’s presidential election in a poll where the incumbent Abdelmadjid Tebboune is tipped to stay on for a second term.

Voting began at 8am (07:00 GMT) and was scheduled be closed at 7pm (18:00 GMT) before it was extended for an hour.

Tebboune, 78, is heavily favoured to see off moderate conservative Abdelaali Hassani Cherif and socialist candidate Youcef Aouchiche.

More than 24 million Algerians were registered to vote in the elections.

“Today we start building our future by voting for our project and leaving boycott and despair behind us,” Aouchiche said on national television after casting his vote.