President of the Republic Abdelmadjid Tebboune paid tribute to "the huge and memorable crowd" that accompanied Mujahid Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaïd Salah to his final resting place, pledging to "preserve the oath of loyalty to the homeland.
In a tribute to the memory of the deceased, President Tebboune wrote: "The Algerian people throughout the national territory have today bid farewell to the valiant mujahid and great military leader, the late Ahmed Ahmed Gaïd Salah, Deputy Minister of National Defence and Chief of Staff of the People's National Army (ANP), in a very emotional and highly significant national momentum."
"He is among the valiant Chouhada whom he rubbed shoulders with in his youth and with whom he was steeped in the school of authentic nationalism, imbued with the noble and eternal Novembrist values," he added.
"In a proud and worthy synergy with their valiant Army, the great Algerian people buried in meditation, in huge and memorable crowds, the late Algerian, haloed by his praiseworthy deeds and values," said the head of state.
"They bid him farewell with a deserved greatness and deference that testifies to sincere and pure feelings," he said.
The deceased "who loved Algeria so much and demonstrated it by word and deed, marked history by an honourable and heroic position that saved the country from a storm that would have torpedoed it at one of the most difficult times in its history," said Tebboune.
"We can only resign ourselves to the will of the Almighty and repeat 'To God we belong and to Him we return," he said recalling that the deceased "devoted his life to Algeria with the perseverance of his patriots,"
"All the words of sadness and sorrow and all the tears of pain are not enough to pay tribute to the man who was, the tenacious, far-sighted and knowledgeable Mujahideen leader and the patriot that devoted his life in preserving the oath of the Shuhada and Mujahideen, said the President of the Republic.
"Allah has graced the deceased with consideration and prayers of peace to his soul," he added
"He leaves us having remained an authentic Novembrist in whose veins loyality and devotion to Algeria flow and on whose footsteps will walk his companions in the Command of the Pople's National Army, worthy heir of the National Liberation Army(ALN), as well as officers, soldiers and affiliates of the national military institution. The Algerian people will remember his deeds forever, with respect and consideration," said Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
"Algerians will continue to be guided by the Novembriste torch, the torch of light that we pass on from generation to generation, the torch that lit Algeria's path to reach, thank God, a safe harbour," continued Tebboune.
"Rest in peace dear brother, deceased of Algeria, valiant Mujahid and great leader, Algeria will remain standing, haughty, preserved and respected. We will remain faithful to the oath and the nationalist path traced by our valiant Chouhada and
Moudjahidine, to complete the building of the new Algeria," he concluded.
"Long live Algeria, Glory to our martyrs."
