A statement as unexpected as it is disturbing has just been published on social networks by Toufik Bennacer, son of the late Major General Larbi Bennacer, former director of military justice (1999-2005), and brother of Colonel Boualem Bennacer, an intelligence officer currently in detention. The announcement of the creation of an “Organization of Free Officers for the Support of National Justice” constitutes a major development in the crisis shaking the Algerian military institution.
While Toufik Bennacer’s first public interventions began in reaction to his brother’s arrest, his in-depth knowledge of the internal workings of the Algerian army and his network of contacts within the military establishment make him a particularly credible source. His recent revelations about the backstage of military power, particularly concerning General Saïd Chengriha, have systematically proven to be accurate, confirmed by subsequent developments. His unique position, inherited from his father but also nourished by the close ties maintained with many senior officers, gives him privileged access to sensitive information circulating in the restricted circles of military power.
The constitutive declaration opens with an unambiguous position: “We, a group of honorable national officers, loyal to our homeland Algeria”, establishing from the outset the legitimacy of the movement while affirming its patriotic character. The declared objective is explicitly targeted: “to demand that Army General Chengriha and the members of his family be brought to justice for corruption and abuse of power”, a demand that contrasts with the usual more general protests.
This declaration comes in a particularly tense context, two days after the spectacular arrest of Major General Mohammed Kaidi, a respected figure in the Algerian army. The timing of this announcement, far from being fortuitous, is part of a series of events that outline the contours of a major institutional crisis within the ANP. Kaidi’s arrest itself came on the symbolic anniversary of General Ahmed Gaid Salah’s death, amid heightened repression against social media users sharing the viral hashtag #مانيش_راضي (“I am not satisfied”).
The principles set out in the statement reveal a carefully crafted approach. The authors affirm their “patriotic commitment” while emphasizing that they are “an integral part of the National People’s Army and reject any attack on its institution or unity.” This nuanced position is clearly intended to reassure both the military institution and the population of their intentions: “We seek neither chaos nor harm to the homeland, but work to achieve reform and protect our army from corruption and manipulation.”
The emergence of this organization comes amid growing tensions within the Algerian military apparatus. The military prison in Blida now houses over 60 generals, an unprecedented situation that demonstrates the scale of the ongoing purges. The recent trial of Colonel Boualem Bennacer, during which he openly defied General Chengriha by demanding his presence for a confrontation, illustrates a profound rupture in the traditional culture of hierarchical submission.
The statement addresses this issue of imprisoned officers head-on, promising to “rehabilitate honorable officers who have been victims of injustice,” a thinly veiled reference to the many officers detained in Blida. This public stance on such a sensitive subject demonstrates unprecedented audacity.
The proliferation of videos of support emanating from the barracks echoes the statement’s call: “To every loyal officer in the ranks of the National People’s Army, we extend our hand to support our noble cause.” This explicit invitation to join the movement suggests confidence in the existence of significant support within the institution.
The temporal convergence between General Kaidi’s arrest, the rise of the hashtag #مانيش_راضي, and the emergence of this organization suggests the existence of coordination, whether intentional or fortuitous, between different forms of protest. The claim that they are “your children, soldiers and protectors of the homeland” is clearly intended to build a bridge between military protest and popular discontent.
The emphasis on the “legal framework” and the objective of “applying peaceful popular and media pressure” reveals a sophisticated strategy, seeking to distance itself from attempts at violent destabilization. The specification that the organization is “temporarily secret” suggests a defined plan of action and a clear vision of the objectives to be achieved.
The reaction of the authorities, marked by a visible reinforcement of security measures around strategic installations and an increase in preventive arrests, reflects a palpable anxiety at the top of the State. This apparent nervousness could paradoxically validate the statement that “our cause is yours, our goal is yours: true justice and a homeland free of corruption.”
On the geopolitical level, the statement is careful to specify that they “accept no external interference or influence on our national decisions,” a formulation that seems intended to prevent any accusation of foreign manipulation. This precision takes on its full meaning in a tense regional context, marked by complex relations with Morocco, the situation in the Sahel, and energy issues with Europe.
The emergence of this organization, announced by a source as well informed as Toufik Bennacer, and the sophistication of its constitutive declaration could mark the beginning of a new phase in the history of the ANP. The conjunction of a structured military protest, growing social discontent, and tensions at the highest level of the military hierarchy creates a potentially explosive situation. As the declaration implicitly suggests, “the question is no longer whether reform is necessary, but when and how it will occur.”
Algeria: The Army in a Time of Fractures
