Opinion by Arezki Daoud: Three notorious figures of the Bouteflika regime, men who can easily be identified as deep-state operators, who have had devastating impact on Algerian politics over the past 20 years are now in military custody. The arrest ordered by a military court of Said Bouteflika, the brother of former President Bouteflika, Retired General Toufik Mediene and General Athman Tartag, two officers who led the DRS intelligence agency, were the biggest problem in advancing Algeria’s transition period. For weeks, the Army Chief of Staff has issued warning after warning, demanding that the three men, in particular Mediene, to stop interfering with the ongoing political transition. Said Bouteflika, for his part, has been cited by many former political and military leaders, including former president, Liamine Zeroual and former military Chief Khaled Nezzar as planning to use extraordinary steps to abort the protest movement, seeking ways to enact a state of emergency and the use of army troops to discipline protesters. Subsequently, these men have been allegedly working covertly to undermine any political development that would see a change in leadership, including waging a social media campaign of misinformation and fake news. Their arrest is good news in that a major clan appears to be losing momentum, paving the way for an easing of tension among the population at the eve of Ramadan. However, it is still a long way to go for the protestors, as the remnants of the Bouteflika regime are still on firmly the driving seat, but at least some major names are now temporarily behind bar.
Former spy chief (bottom left) and brother of president Bouteflika (top right) arrested on 4 May 2019 for conspiring against the state
Algiers, May 5, 2019 – An Algerian military judge on Sunday remanded the powerful brother of deposed president Abdelaziz Bouteflika and two former intelligence chiefs in custody on charges including “conspiring” against the state, prosecutors said. The arrests of Said Bouteflika, General Mohamed Mediene and Athmane Tartag on Saturday were the highest-profile legal moves against loyalists of the ex-leader since he resigned last month in the face of mass protests and pressure from the army.
Military prosecutors in the southern town of Blida said in a statement the men had been placed under provisionary detention Sunday on accusations of “undermining the authority of the army” and “conspiring against the authority of the state”.
Retired intelligence chief Toufik Mediene arrested by military court on 4 May 2019
State television interrupted its regular programming to broadcast a special news bulletin showing the trio being brought to court, scenes that were unimaginable to most Algerians just weeks ago. Said Bouteflika, 61, was widely seen as the real power behind the presidency after his brother suffered a debilitating stroke in 2013.
Mediene, known as Toufik, headed the all-powerful secret service for 25 years and Tartag served as intelligence coordinator.
The charges for which they are being investigated are punishable by prison terms of between five and 10 years. Over a month after the departure of Bouteflika on April 2 huge demonstrations are ongoing in the North African country with people demanding the removal of regime insiders.
Retired intelligence officer Athman Tartag arrested on 4 May 2019 for conspiring against the state and the military
Algeria’s army chief Ahmed Gaid Salah has become a key powerbroker since breaking with president Bouteflika and pushing for him to go. Gaid Salah has in recent weeks accused Mediene of being involved in a plot against Algeria. In mid-April he gave what he called “a final warning” to the former intelligence chief whom he accused of conspiring to “hinder solutions to ending the crisis” in the protest-hit country.
Gaid Salah had helped Abdelaziz Bouteflika to neuter the DRS intelligence agency, which was long considered a “state within a state”. Tartag — described by Algerian media as close to the former president’s brother — was fired just after Bouteflika’s resignation. Algeria’s former defence minister Khaled Nezzar meanwhile has recently claimed that Said Bouteflika wanted to declare a state of emergency and had considered firing Gaid Salah, ahead of the president’s resignation. The arrests of Said Bouteflika and the two ex-spy bosses were the latest to target the former president’s inner circle and country’s ruling elite. Five powerful and wealthy businessmen, including the country’s richest man Issad Rebrab, have been detained over suspected corruption. Former prime minister Ahmed Ouyahia was on Tuesday questioned at court in the centre of the capital Algiers, as part of the ongoing corruption probe.
By AFP
