President Bouteflika orders changes within senior Army Security Apparatus

Three officials of key posts in the security apparatus of the country (Republican Guard, security of the President, and counter-intelligence) have been dismissed of late by the President of the Republic Abdellaziz Bouteflika.

President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and supreme Chief of the country’s armed forces sacked three officers from key army positions, reported local media quoting official sources. Chiefs of counterintelligence, presidential security and the Republican Guard, all three with the rank of major-general, had been dismissed.

These dismissals and the new nominations came out in the Official Gazette published on Thursday.

However, no official source has given explanations for these changes. Sanctions, sent to retirement? Difficult to surmise. “These changes, who […] do not have a common denominator, raise many questions, comments, sometimes with astonishment and incomprehension,” according to political analysts.

“Change, suddenly, two weeks after the 53rd anniversary of the country’s independence day, officials of three security services in both delicate and sensitive missions, cannot be ordered on a whim. So, what motivated such changes at this very moment?  These unexpected changes have cost three Major-Generals their position? “, wondered again some political commentators.”

The Chief of counter-intelligence, General Ali Bendaoud, number 2 of the powerful intelligence services, was replaced by Colonel Abdelaziz.

He had been appointed to the post of Director of internal security (DSI) in September 2013 within the framework of a restructuring of the Department of intelligence and security (DRS).

The General at the head of the Republican Guard, Ahmed Moulay Meliani, was replaced by Lieutenant-General Ben Ali Ben Ali (former Commander of the 5th military region). This is the highest grade of the Algerian army. It is only devolved upon four officers of high rank.

The head of presidential security, General Djamel Kehal Medjdoub , in office for ten years, was replaced by General Nacer Habchi. This Directorate therefore, the personal security of the head of State and the Presidential Palace, works closely with the Republican Guard.

According to some media outlets, the dismissals of Djamel Kehal Medjdoub (presidential security) and Ahmed Moulay Meliani (Republican Guard) could be the result of “errors” and “neglect”.

An “accident” reportedly occurred last week when two officers of the presidential guard fired shots by “negligence”, causing widespread panic in the state residence of Zeralda, West of Algiers coast, where the head of State is resting, said a daily newspaper.