July was a month of unexpected and largely unexplained political activity in Algeria, with major reshuffling of high-level government and military personnel. Algeria Focus examines the possible reasons behind these changes and discusses implications for the future of Algerian politics. 

Between 22 and 25 July, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika dismissed three ministers, replaced three top security generals, and reshuffled many of the country’s governors.

The first change, announced on 22 July, was the re-organisation of approximately half of the walis (regional governors). This is one of the largest single changes that has ever been made at that level of the country’s administration.

The following day – and just over two months after the substantial 14 May reshuffle – changes in three ministerial positions were announced. Amara Benyounès, minister of trade and commerce, was replaced by Belaïb Bakhti; Abdelkader Kadi, minister of agriculture, rural development and fisheries, by Ferroukhi Sid Ahmed; and Abdelkader Khomri, minister of youth and sports, by Ould Ali El Hadi.

The dismissal of Benyounès, president of the small Mouvement Populaire Algérien (MPA) party, was the most surprising. Despite demonstrating public loyalty to Bouteflika, and showing himself to be a competent minister, it seems that Benyounès had become an irritant in both Algiers and Paris. Benyounès had fallen out with Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal on at least one issue: the sale and distribution of alcohol. Allegations also suggest that he may have been uncomfortable with the extent of France’s influence on Algerian business and economic decisions.

Over the next two days, Bouteflika dismissed three top security generals, again with no explanation or comment. These included the replacement of General Djamel Kehal Medjdoub, head of the Direction générale de la sécurité et de la protection présidentielle (DGSPP), by General Nacer Habchi; General Ahmed Moulay Meliani, head of the Republican Guard, by General Benali Benali; and General Ali Bendoaoud, head of the DRS’s (Département du Renseignement et de la Sécurité) Internal Security Directorate (DSI), by Colonel Abdelaziz.

These moves – which come less than two weeks after the annual army appointments and retirements – seem to be part of an effort to weaken General Mohamed ‘Toufik’ Mediène, head of the DRS.  The dismissal of Medjdoub removes a top security function from the DRS and places it under the control of Army Chief of Staff Gaïd Salah. Benali’s appointment as head of the Republican Guard also brings that command firmly under the president and the army. Similarly, the dismissal of Bendoaoud, who was close to Mediène, will further weaken Mediène’s influence and control over security.

These changes suggest a considerable strengthening of the army high command and the Bouteflika presidency, and a continued weakening of the DRS.