Initial results show Algeria's Tebboune wins second presidential term

Algeria's incumbent President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has gained a clear win in the North African country's presidential election and secured a second five-year term in office, preliminary results showed on Sunday.

The election was held in the energy-rich country on Saturday pitting Tebboune against Islamist Hassani Sharif Abdel Aali and Youssef Aouchiche from the Socialist Forces Front.

Tebboune, who took office in late 2019, gained 94.6% of the votes while Abdel Aali and Aouchiche garnered a bit more than 3% and 2% respectively, the electoral commission head Mohammed Charfi said at a press conference.

Around 48.03% of eligible voters cast their ballots, the panel said. At least 24 million were eligible to vote.

Turnout was seen as a main challenge in Saturday's election.

Voting was extended by one hour to encourage more people to show up.

In the 2019 election that Tebboune won, nearly 40% of the eligible voters cast their ballots.

Now, the provisional results will be sent to Algeria's Constitutional Court, which is responsible for examining them and hearing potential appeals before releasing the final official result. The process may take up to three weeks.

Tebboune, 78, was the clear favourite in the vote as he is supported by parties holding the majority of seats in Algerian parliament.

He was elected president in December 2019, eight months after long-time ruler Abdelaziz Bouteflika was forced to resign under pressure following street protests and from the powerful army.

Algeria, a former French colony, is a key energy supplier to Europe.