Farid Bencheikh, the head of gigantic police and security agency, the Director General of National Security (DGSN), was fired today and replaced by another officer, Ali Badaoui. Bencheikh had been in office since 15 March 2021.
Although the presidency did not specify the reason for the sacking, the decision came less than ten days after an undocumented migrant was found on December 28, 2024, at France’s Orly airport stuck in the landing gear of the Air Algérie flight coming from Oran, Algeria. The incident has raised questions about security in Algerian airports, since it is not the first time that such an incident has occurred inside what Algeria considered to be sensitive infrastructures. Interestingly, Badaoui, who was called to replace Bencheikh, was head of the Border Police, which is directly responsible for the airport security, creating confusion among analysts as to why he was not sectioned instead. Stiil Badaou has a great deal of support from the security establishment in Algeria, having led several provincial security outfits.
As for Bencheikh, although the primary motive of his sacking may have been the Air Algerie incident, he has been under intense attack from his detractors for more than one year. He has been accused of corruption. He is accused of conducting business while he was the top law enforcement official in Algeria, including allegedly buying a hotel in Paris, France. He is also accused of partnering with his brother in allegedly buying and selling hotels and bar in France. All these accusations led many to worry about clear conflicts of interest with a top security officer in Algeria conducting private business in a foreign country, with all its implications on national security.
In a press release, the Presidency insisted on the “direct responsibility” of police officers at Oran airport, also directly blaming an Air Algérie technician, promising legal actions against them.
On Monday, a Court of Oran ordered the incarceration of 11 people, all officers working for the Border Police at Oran Airport, pending ongoing investigations into the case.
