Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigned as Algeria's president on Tuesday, April 2.

It's an about-face for the 82-year-old, who earlier this year announced his intentions to run for a fifth term. The prospect of Bouteflika running again sparked mass protests in Algeria, ultimately forcing Bouteflika to back down and withdraw his candidacy. The government has since postponed the elections.

Bouteflika was first elected in 1999 with the backing of the military, in a race boycotted by all other candidates and widely panned as fraudulent. However, he won praise as a new president for steering his country back to stability after "the black decade" of the 1990s, when a bloody civil war left more than 150,000 dead.

He was elected again in 2004, 2009 and 2014 by wide margins, although often with criticism about the elections' fairness.

Bouteflika speaks during a news conference in Algiers in October 1963. From 1963 to 1979, he was the country's minister of foreign affairs.
Bouteflika speaks during a news conference in Algiers in October 1963. From 1963 to 1979, he was the country's minister of foreign affairs.
Andre SAS/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images
Bouteflika answers journalists' questions in Paris as he leaves a meeting with French President Georges Pompidou in September 1970.
Bouteflika answers journalists' questions in Paris as he leaves a meeting with French President Georges Pompidou in September 1970.
AFP/Getty Images
Bouteflika meets with US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger at a hotel in New York in October 1975.
Bouteflika meets with US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger at a hotel in New York in October 1975.
Dave Pickoff/AP
Bouteflika speaks with future Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, left, and Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, second from left, between debates in Baghdad, Iraq, in November 1978.
Bouteflika speaks with future Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, left, and Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, second from left, between debates in Baghdad, Iraq, in November 1978.
Jacques Pavlovsky/Sygma/Getty Images
In November 1986, Bouteflika attends a reception that celebrated the 32nd anniversary of the Algerian revolution.
In November 1986, Bouteflika attends a reception that celebrated the 32nd anniversary of the Algerian revolution.
Mohamed Lounes/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Bouteflika in July 1992.
Bouteflika in July 1992.
DSK/AFP/Getty Images
Bouteflika, running for president, addresses supporters in Adrar, Algeria, in April 1999.
Bouteflika, running for president, addresses supporters in Adrar, Algeria, in April 1999.
Manoocher Deghati/AFP/Getty Images
Bouteflika supporters ride camels and hold up a poster of the presidential candidate in April 1999.
Bouteflika supporters ride camels and hold up a poster of the presidential candidate in April 1999.
Manoocher Deghati/AFP/Getty Images
Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi walks with newly elected President Bouteflika at the Organization of African Unity summit in Algiers in July 1999.
Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi walks with newly elected President Bouteflika at the Organization of African Unity summit in Algiers in July 1999.
AFP/Getty Images
Cuban President Fidel Castro salutes troops alongside Bouteflika, who was making an official visit to Cuba in April 2000.
Cuban President Fidel Castro salutes troops alongside Bouteflika, who was making an official visit to Cuba in April 2000.
Adalberto Roque/AFP/Getty Images
Bouteflika speaks during the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in February 2000. Bouteflika launched a passionate attack on the West, accusing it of trying to wipe Africa off the world map by blindly pursuing economic globalization.
Bouteflika speaks during the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in February 2000. Bouteflika launched a passionate attack on the West, accusing it of trying to wipe Africa off the world map by blindly pursuing economic globalization.
Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images
French President Jacques Chirac, alongside Bouteflika, waves during a visit to Algeria in March 2003.
French President Jacques Chirac, alongside Bouteflika, waves during a visit to Algeria in March 2003.
Gilles Bassignac/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Image
Bouteflika presents French soccer star Zinedine Zidane with Algeria's highest distinction, the Al-Athir medal, during a ceremony in December 2006. Zidane's parents emigrated to France from Algeria.
Bouteflika presents French soccer star Zinedine Zidane with Algeria's highest distinction, the Al-Athir medal, during a ceremony in December 2006. Zidane's parents emigrated to France from Algeria.
Fayez Nureldine/AFP/Getty Images
Bouteflika meets Touareg men in the Algerian town of In Salah during a visit to the Sahara desert region in January 2008. Just a few months earlier, Bouteflika narrowly escaped a bomb attack in the eastern city of Batna that killed at least 22 people waiting to see him.
Bouteflika meets Touareg men in the Algerian town of In Salah during a visit to the Sahara desert region in January 2008. Just a few months earlier, Bouteflika narrowly escaped a bomb attack in the eastern city of Batna that killed at least 22 people waiting to see him.
Ouahab Hebbat/AP
Bouteflika attends an official welcome ceremony in Moscow in February 2008.
Bouteflika attends an official welcome ceremony in Moscow in February 2008.
Mikhail Metzel/AP
Bouteflika prays at the mausoleum of Tlemcen, Algeria, in April 2011.
Bouteflika prays at the mausoleum of Tlemcen, Algeria, in April 2011.
Sidali Diarboub/AP
Bouteflika sits beside his Army chief of staff, Gen. Ahmed Gaid Salah, during a military parade in Cherchell, Algeria, in June 2012.
Bouteflika sits beside his Army chief of staff, Gen. Ahmed Gaid Salah, during a military parade in Cherchell, Algeria, in June 2012.
Anis Belghoul/AP
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appears at a news conference with Bouteflika following a meeting in Algiers in October 2012. Clinton held talks with Bouteflika to press for a possible military intervention in neighboring Mali, where Islamic extremists controlled large areas.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appears at a news conference with Bouteflika following a meeting in Algiers in October 2012. Clinton held talks with Bouteflika to press for a possible military intervention in neighboring Mali, where Islamic extremists controlled large areas.
Farouk Batiche/AFP/Getty Images
Torn posters of Bouteflika appear in the city of Bordj El Bahri during a re-election campaign in April 2014.
Torn posters of Bouteflika appear in the city of Bordj El Bahri during a re-election campaign in April 2014.
Patrick Baz/AFP/Getty Images
Bouteflika is wheeled across a stage during his swearing-in ceremony in April 2014. Bouteflika has rarely been seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013.
Bouteflika is wheeled across a stage during his swearing-in ceremony in April 2014. Bouteflika has rarely been seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013.
Bechir Ramzy/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Bouteflika casts his vote during parliamentary elections in May 2017.
Bouteflika casts his vote during parliamentary elections in May 2017.
Ryad Kramdi/AFP/Getty Images
Bouteflika is pictured at a polling station in Algiers in November 2017.
Bouteflika is pictured at a polling station in Algiers in November 2017.
Ryad Kramdi/AFP/Getty Images
Supporters of the National Liberation Front, Bouteflika's political party, gather in February 2019 to call upon Bouteflika to run for a fifth term.
Supporters of the National Liberation Front, Bouteflika's political party, gather in February 2019 to call upon Bouteflika to run for a fifth term.
Ryad Kramdi/AFP/Getty Images
Demonstrators, protesting against Bouteflika's candidacy, tear down a large billboard of him in Algiers in February 2019.
Demonstrators, protesting against Bouteflika's candidacy, tear down a large billboard of him in Algiers in February 2019.
Ryad Kramdi/AFP/Getty Images
In this image from state TV broadcaster ENTV, Bouteflika reviews a document as he presents his resignation in April 2019. His resignation comes after 20 years in office and six weeks of nationwide protests aimed at pushing him and his inner circle from power.
In this image from state TV broadcaster ENTV, Bouteflika reviews a document as he presents his resignation in April 2019. His resignation comes after 20 years in office and six weeks of nationwide protests aimed at pushing him and his inner circle from power.
ENTV via AP