Algeria’s intelligence chief dismissed

Algeria’s Intelligence Chief Bachir Tartag has been dismissed and his position annexed to the country’s Ministry of National Defence, local media announced yesterday.

Quoting unnamed sources, the private channel Echorouk News said that the Intelligence Chief Major-General Bachir Tartag was dismissed from office. It stated that the role will now be attached to the Ministry of National Defence, having been affiliated with the Presidency of the Republic since 2015.

The channel added that the dismissal of Tartag came against the backdrop of recent events in Algeria, which has seen widespread protests against the presidency of Abdelaziz Bouteflika and his decision to seek a fifth term in office.

In September 2015, Tartag was appointed head of Algeria’s Intelligence Service, succeeding Major-General Mohamed Madin, who was known in the media as Tawfiq and had held the post since 1990.

Following the appointment of Tartag, it was decided to attach the Intelligence Service – with its three branches internal, external, and technical security – to the Presidency of the Republic, instead of the Ministry of Defence.

For its part, the private Ennahar channel said that Tartag “was relieved of his post and left his office on Thursday evening, as he was an adviser to the President of the Republic, charged with coordination between the security services”.

It added that “it was decided to cancel the position, which was specifically created for Tartag”.

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A few days ago, Tartag was named in a secret meeting between former Intelligence Chief Madin and Said Bouteflika, the brother of President Abdelaziz, to prepare for a transitional period following the president’s planned departure, which angered the army leadership.

According to leaks from this meeting, the discussion intended to present a proposal to former President of the Republic, Liamine Zeroual, to take the lead in the transitional phase.

After the meeting, the Algerian Army Chief of Staff, Major General Ahmed Gaid Salah, accused parties in the meeting of preparing a plan to discredit the army and trying to circumvent the demands of the people.

On Tuesday evening, Bouteflika submitted his letter of resignation to the Constitutional Council, following a statement by the army leadership, in which Gaid Salah called on him to immediately step down in response to the people’s will.

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