Bouteflika dismisses General Toufik

President Abdelaziz Bouteflika Sunday dismissed Chief of Intelligence Department Colonel Mohamed Mediene alias Toufik and replaced him by Othmane Tartague. This comes two days after Chief of the National Gendarmerie Ahmed Boustila had been dismissed as well.

The President’s Office said in a release that the president dismissed the intelligence chief in view of his prerogatives as the Higher Commander of the Armed Forces.

It added that President Bouteflika appointed Othmane Tartague as a new chief of the Intelligence Department after he had been dismissed from the anti-spying department, two years ago.

Two days ago, the Chief of the National Gendarmerie Ahmed Boustila was dismissed.

This comes as a reshuffle was conducted on the Intelligence Department, 51 days ago. General Ahmed Moulay Meliani, Chief of the Republican Guards who was replaced by General Ali Benali, former commander of the fifth military zone. Presidential security director Djamel Madjdoub was dismissed and succeeded by Nacer Habchi.

A day later, General Abdelhamid Daoud, anti-spying chief at the intelligence department was dismissed.

Those changes were accompanied by reforms at the intelligence department. A large number of its prerogatives were banned.

Presidential security department was joined to the republican guards. Reports say quick intervention forces may be dissolved and would be joined to fighting units of the national defence ministry.

Observers believe that those changes come as part of a conflict between the President’s Office and the Intelligence Department.

Leader of Algeria’s RND party Ahmed Ouyahia Saturday said there is no conflict between Bouteflika and Toufik.

Earlier, former head of government Mouloud Hamrouche said there is no conflict between the two men and changes conducted in the army are normal measures.

Two years ago, Secretary General of Algeria’s FLN party Amar Saidani criticized General Mediene for “security failures” in the Tiguentourine gas complex attack and the black decade.