The Arrest of Former National Police Chief, Farid Bencheikh, Ignites Clan War

Barely a few days have passed since the dismissal of General Djebbar Mehenna, the former Director General of External Security, that a file believed to be shelved has been brought back to light. This is the file of the former Director General of National Security, Zinedine Farid Bencheikh.

By Hichem ABOUD

The former head of the Algerian national police, Farid Bencheikh, has been at the main operational investigation center for more than 24 hours. He is being interrogated about his alleged “connections with French intelligence services.” The Bencheikh saga is far from over.

Arrested on April 25, after being dismissed from his position as Director General of National Security four months earlier, on January 8, he was released about ten days later, on May 6. Zinedine Farid Bencheikh was freed after being heard by the investigating judge of the military court in Blida. He is not subject to an ISTN (prohibition on leaving the national territory), as is the case for many Algerian officials. A few days later, he flew to Paris where his son resides before traveling to Geneva and Vienna. Those who expected him to stay in Europe and flee Algeria permanently were surprised by his return to his homeland. The man is said to have received guarantees that he would have nothing to fear from his regime adversaries. His opponents are named General-Major Djebbar Mehenna, then head of external security, and his associates.

As long as General Djebbar is in office, everything is fine for Bencheikh. But as soon as he is asked to clear out, everything accelerates. The file of the former DGSN is once again brought out with the ready-made accusation.

First of all, it is a clear message to President Tebboune: “If you intend to go far in dismantling the Chengriha clan, be careful!” This means that it is unnecessary to think about removing the gendarmerie commander, General Yahia Cherif Ouelhadj. The latter, one of the supporting men of the army chief of staff, General Saïd Chengriha, provoked an incident on September 21 against supporters of the country’s most popular club, through skirmishes at the entrance and inside the new Douera stadium, which cost the life of a fan of the Mouloudia of Algiers. Worse still, the gendarmes responsible for the disturbances arrested and imprisoned 14 supporters, with the aim of maintaining tension.

A true Machiavellian plan that miserably failed. A plan reminiscent of that of the former gendarmerie chief, General Ghani Belksir, who had planned riots outside stadiums in October 2018, demanding the ousting of President Bouteflika. Late at night, at 10 PM, an order was given to cancel all football matches in both divisions of the championship.

Tebboune Involved in Corruption Cases Led by His Son Khaled

This same General Ghani Belksir is again on the agenda. The arrest of Farid Bencheikh was followed by that of his daughter, who has no connection to her father’s affairs. However, according to those close to General Chengriha’s circle, it is a way to pressure the former gendarmerie chief to bring forth the files he holds on Abdelmadjid Tebboune. Knowing that it was under his command that the gendarmerie conducted an investigation into his son Khaled, arrested in June 2018 in a corruption case involving the current occupant of the El-Mouradia presidential palace, when he was the Minister of Housing. It was he who granted extensions for real estate developers against astronomical sums of money. In reality, his son Khaled was merely playing the role of intermediary.

Will Belksir eventually yield to Chengriha’s pressures and unlock the long-anticipated vault for General Djebbar, who is eager for revenge and to return to power like in 2020? Let’s wait and see…