Defectors from the French army to the ALN
Encyclopedia
Defectors from the French army to the ALN
, pejoratively called hizb França (the party of France
) or abbreviated DAF (défecteurs de l'armée française) constitute an important faction in the Algerian army
, and more generally the Algerian power structure, including such key generals as Khaled Nezzar
, Mohamed Lamari
, Larbi Belkheir
, Mohamed Touati, and Abbas Gheziel. This faction gained power following 1988, and especially during the Algerian Civil War
; a major military reshuffle in 2000 further increased its influence (with the promotion of such Lamari protégés as Fodhil Cherif and Said Bey) at the expense of ALN fighters who had been trained in Arab countries rather than in the French army (a faction notably including Liamine Zeroual
and Tayeb Derradji.) Several of the main leaders of this faction have now retired, but remain influential. This faction is generally considered eradicationist (favouring no dialogue with Islamist guerrillas in the context of the Algerian Civil War
.) Detractors claim that this faction has longstanding close ties with the French government , and question the sincerity of their last-minute changes of side in the Algerian War of Independence
. A particularly notable detractor, ex-Prime Minister Abdelhamid Brahimi
, assigns them the primary blame for the coup of 1992 and the ensuing Algerian Civil War
.
Armée de Libération Nationale
The Armée de Libération Nationale or ALN was the armed wing of the nationalist Front de Libération National during the Algerian War of Independence...
, pejoratively called hizb França (the party of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) or abbreviated DAF (défecteurs de l'armée française) constitute an important faction in the Algerian army
People's National Army
The People's National Army is the land force of the Military of Algeria,the 2nd largest army in North Africa after Egypt.The People's National Army's equipment is provided by Russia, China,and other various countries....
, and more generally the Algerian power structure, including such key generals as Khaled Nezzar
Khaled Nezzar
Major-General Khaled Nezzar is an Algerian general and former member of the High Council of State of Algeria. He was born in the douar of Thlet, in Seriana in the Batna region. His father, Rahal Nezzar, was a former non-commissioned officer in the French army who had turned to farming after...
, Mohamed Lamari
Mohamed Lamari
Lt. Gen. Mohamed Lamari was Chief of Staff of the Algerian army during most of the Algerian Civil War.He was born on 7 June 1939 in Algiers, to a family originally from Bordj Benazzouz . He joined the French army, completing his training in the cavalry at the Ecole de guerre in Saumur...
, Larbi Belkheir
Larbi Belkheir
Maj.-Gen. Larbi Belkheir was a noted Algerian retired general and political figure.He was born in Frenda in 1938, and joined the French army, reaching the rank of second lieutenant. In 1960, six years into the Algerian War of Independence, he changed sides and joined the National Liberation Army...
, Mohamed Touati, and Abbas Gheziel. This faction gained power following 1988, and especially during the Algerian Civil War
Algerian Civil War
The Algerian Civil War was an armed conflict between the Algerian government and various Islamist rebel groups which began in 1991. It is estimated to have cost between 150,000 and 200,000 lives, in a population of about 25,010,000 in 1990 and 31,193,917 in 2000.More than 70 journalists were...
; a major military reshuffle in 2000 further increased its influence (with the promotion of such Lamari protégés as Fodhil Cherif and Said Bey) at the expense of ALN fighters who had been trained in Arab countries rather than in the French army (a faction notably including Liamine Zeroual
Liamine Zéroual
Liamine Zéroual was the ninth President of Algeria from 31 January 1994 to 27 April 1999.He was born in Batna and joined the National Liberation Army in 1957, at the age of 16, to fight French rule of Algeria. After independence, he received training in Cairo, Moscow, and Paris...
and Tayeb Derradji.) Several of the main leaders of this faction have now retired, but remain influential. This faction is generally considered eradicationist (favouring no dialogue with Islamist guerrillas in the context of the Algerian Civil War
Algerian Civil War
The Algerian Civil War was an armed conflict between the Algerian government and various Islamist rebel groups which began in 1991. It is estimated to have cost between 150,000 and 200,000 lives, in a population of about 25,010,000 in 1990 and 31,193,917 in 2000.More than 70 journalists were...
.) Detractors claim that this faction has longstanding close ties with the French government , and question the sincerity of their last-minute changes of side in the Algerian War of Independence
Algerian War of Independence
The Algerian War was a conflict between France and Algerian independence movements from 1954 to 1962, which led to Algeria's gaining its independence from France...
. A particularly notable detractor, ex-Prime Minister Abdelhamid Brahimi
Abdelhamid Brahimi
Dr. Abdelhamid Brahimi is an Algerian who first served as minister of planning before becoming the prime minister of Algeria under Chadli Bendjedid. He served as PM from January 22, 1984 until November 5, 1988. He has written several books, particularly about violence in Algeria.- References :...
, assigns them the primary blame for the coup of 1992 and the ensuing Algerian Civil War
Algerian Civil War
The Algerian Civil War was an armed conflict between the Algerian government and various Islamist rebel groups which began in 1991. It is estimated to have cost between 150,000 and 200,000 lives, in a population of about 25,010,000 in 1990 and 31,193,917 in 2000.More than 70 journalists were...
.