General Major Mohammed Kaidi, former intelligence chief, sentenced to 8 years in prison
Former Algerian intelligence director Major General Mohammed Kaidi has been sentenced to eight years in military prison, military judicial authorities announced on December 23, 2024, coinciding with the anniversary of former Army Chief of Staff Ahmed Gaid Salah’s death.
Military Prosecutor Fouad Boukhari referred the case to Military Investigating Judge Nassib Abdelmalek,
who ordered Kaidi’s detention at the military prison in Blida. The former intelligence chief becomes the 61st general officer currently held in Algeria’s military detention facilities.
The official military authorities have not officially disclosed the specific charges that led to the eight-year prison sentence. Our sources have confirmed that allegations of espionage form the front of the case, although these claims cannot be independently verified.
Multiple sources familiar with internal military affairs, speaking on condition of anonymity, told us that the rivalry perceived by Saïd Chengriha has played a crucial role in General Kaidi’s sentencing.
Rise To Power
In May 2019, ANP Chief of Staff Ahmed Gaïd Salah appointed General Mohammed Kaidi as coordinator of all security services, replacing General Athmane Tartag. General Bouazza Ouassini at the time had been appointed director of counter-espionage.
Kaidi, who became the youngest general of his generation, had initially enjoyed strong backing from both former Chief of Staff Ahmed Gaid Salah and current Army Chief Said Chengriha. His rapid ascension through military ranks and growing influence within the institution marked him as a rising star in Algeria’s military leadership.
Kaidi’s former position as Head of the Training and Readiness Department, a strategically vital role previously held by former Chief of Staff Mohammed Lamari, involved oversight of land, air, and naval operations planning. The position traditionally carries substantial international responsibilities, including representing Algeria in global security cooperation forums. The department’s influence extends across all military branches, making its leadership particularly sensitive within the military hierarchy.
Major General Mohammed Kaidi at the White House Summit to Counter Violent Extremist in February 2015
“The position inherently involves significant interaction with international partners and autonomous decision-making authority,” said a former military official who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the topic.
Sources indicate that Kaidi’s management style and diplomatic approach, particularly regarding Morocco, increasingly set him apart from Chengriha’s hardline military doctrine. His expanding influence and support base among regional commanders created perceived rivalry from Saïd Chengriha.
“His unprecedented career trajectory and growing authority within the military establishment made him both admired and viewed with caution,” added the same source.
A Challenger to Saïd Chengriha
Documents and sources familiar with internal military affairs reveal that tensions between General Kaidi and military leadership emerged in 2021, when Kaidi conducted comprehensive evaluations of Algeria’s military regions. The assessment, which gained support from regional military commanders, reportedly challenged established authority structures. Sources indicate that Kaidi’s reports particularly focused on operational readiness and regional force distribution. During a crucial November 4, 2021, meeting with Army Chief of Staff Said Chengriha, ostensibly called to discuss Morocco-related security matters, Kaidi reportedly presented his own independent views regarding border security management. According to sources informed about the meeting, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Kaidi raised concerns about civilian movement in restricted military zones and questioned certain aspects of regional security policies.
Prior to his arrest, Kaidi had garnered significant support from regional commanders for a potential appointment as head of ground forces, to succeed General Athamnia.
His dismissal
The 14th session of the joint Algerian-Malian sectoral cooperation committee was held on February 12, 2021. General Kaidi took part as ANP representative. However, in the final communiqué issued by the Malian General Staff, General Major Kaidi was given the title of Deputy Chief of Staff. General Chengriha was offended by this description, all the more so as the website of the Algerian embassy in Bamako reproduced the Malian army’s communiqué unchanged. International visibility, particularly with the French, Germans and Russians, is upsetting the old guard in the high command.
General Mohammed Kaidi, was dismissed in November 2021 by General Saïd Chengriha. In December 2024, Major General Kaidi’s imprisonment case represents the latest in a series of high-profile military prosecutions that have seen at least 60 generals and dozens of officers imprisoned in recent years since Saïd Chengriha’s rise to power in 2020.
Military judicial authorities have declined to provide details about the trial proceedings or evidence presented against Kaidi. Multiple requests for comment have gone unanswered.
