Algerian intelligence service changes are part of 2011 reforms

The Algerian presidency has announced that a series of changes launched by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika within the intelligence service are part of a political and security reforms package which was introduced in 2011.

The official state news agency reported the presidential statement. It pointed out that the security and political reforms movement in 2011 began with the lifting of the state of emergency and the implementation of several laws with a political dimension. “The reforms included security institutions and the reorganisation of the Intelligence service apparatus,” the report noted.

The clarification was issued after Bouteflika decided last month to grant early retirement to the head of the intelligence service, Mohammed Madein. He had risen to become Algeria’s most influential officer.

In late August, a military court sentenced the former commander of counter-terrorism intelligence, General Abdel Qader Ayet Ouarabi, a close associate of General Madein, to prison on undisclosed charges. The commanders of the Republican Guards and the National Gendarmerie were also removed from their posts.

Bouteflika initiated a series of reforms in 2013 within the military, the intelligence service, the presidential security service and the state media.