Khaled Nezzar
Encyclopedia
Major-General Khaled Nezzar (Arabic
خالد نزّار) (born 25 December 1937) is an Algeria
n 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 World War II
. His mother died in 1941.
to participate in the Algerian War of Independence
. He started out as a National Liberation Army instructor, and was then appointed as an assistant to Colonel Chadli Bendjedid
(military chief of northeastern Algeria).
After independence in 1962, he remained in the Algerian army, and starting rising through the ranks. He went to Moscow
in 1964 to receive military training at the Frunze Military Academy there. Upon his return in 1965, he was named Director of Materiel in the Ministry of National Defense. Soon after Houari Boumedienne's coup, he was put in charge of the Saharan 2nd Motorized Infantry, based around Ain Sefra
. In 1968, he was sent to Egypt
to help guard the Egypt-Israel line of control, which at the time (just after the Six Day War) witnessed regular artillery bombardments and aerial bombings. After returning from Egypt, he was put in charge of training Algeria's first parachutists, with Soviet help, at Biskra
.
In 1975, he went through further training at the Ecole Supérieure de Guerre in Paris
; at this point, he was a Lieutenant-Colonel. He returned in his second year without finishing his studies, having been summoned back to command troops in Tindouf
at the height of the Moroccan-Algerian conflict over the Western Sahara
issue. He spent the next seven years in the Bechar
-Tindouf
area.
After Chadli Bendjedid
took power, Nezzar was sent away from Tindouf to the east, a decision which he resented. He rose rapidly through the ranks, and, by 1988, he was a ground forces commander at Ain Naadja in Algiers, where he played a significant role in suppressing the "Black October" riots.
and president Chadli Bendjedid
, whom he accuses of effectively "conniving" with the Islamic Salvation Front
for the sake of increasing their power.
After the Islamic Salvation Front
's electoral victory in 1991, he, along with Larbi Belkheir
, was among the leading generals who decided to depose then-President Chadli Bendjedid
and annul the elections, marking the beginning of the Algerian Civil War
. He became a member of the new provisional governing body, the High Council of State (HCS), when it was established in January 1992. He survived an assassination attempt in February 1993 in El Biar
(Algiers), and gave up his position five months later, when the HCS's mandate terminated. In 1999, he (unusual for an Algerian general) published his memoirs, written in French and translated into Arabic.
violently attacked a Le Matin reporter, Sid Ahmed Semiane, for having criticized his father. He had already threatened him several times. Nezzar apologized for his son's actions three days later; his son was eventually found guilty in court, and paid a fine of 12 euros.
In 2002, Nezzar sued the dissident officer Habib Souaidia in Paris
for defamation. Souaidia had accused him of "being responsible for the assassination of thousands of people", blaming him and other generals for starting the war and committing massacres attributed to the Armed Islamic Group
. As the trial began, nine Algerians in Paris filed complaints against Nezzar for torture and inhumane treatment; he left Paris before these could be evaluated, saying he did not want to risk a diplomatic incident. The court found Souaidia innocent.
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
خالد نزّار) (born 25 December 1937) is an Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
n general and former member of the High Council of State of Algeria. He was born in the douar of Thlet, in Seriana
Seriana
Seriana is a town in Batna Province, Algeria, at . In the colonial period, it was called Pasteur.An arms factory, the Entreprise des Réalisations Industrielles de Seriana, is located there. Khaled Nezzar was born in the area....
in the Batna
Batna Province
Batna is a wilaya of Algeria. Capital is Batna. Localities in this province include Barika, Merouana and Timgad. Belezma National Park is there.- Administrative divisions :It is made up of 22 districts and 61 municipalities.The districts are:...
region. His father, Rahal Nezzar, was a former non-commissioned officer in the French army who had turned to farming after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. His mother died in 1941.
Military career
After studying in the local native school (école indigène), he was transferred to a school for troops' children at Kolea, and then joined the French army, studying at the Strasbourg military school in Algiers where non-commissioned officers were trained. He deserted on 27 April 1958, joining the National Liberation FrontNational Liberation Front (Algeria)
The National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Algeria. It was set up on November 1, 1954 as a merger of other smaller groups, to obtain independence for Algeria from France.- Anticolonial struggle :...
to participate 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...
. He started out as a National Liberation Army instructor, and was then appointed as an assistant to Colonel Chadli Bendjedid
Chadli Bendjedid
Chadli Bendjedid was the sixth President of Algeria from February 9, 1979 to January 11, 1992.-Early career:...
(military chief of northeastern Algeria).
After independence in 1962, he remained in the Algerian army, and starting rising through the ranks. He went to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
in 1964 to receive military training at the Frunze Military Academy there. Upon his return in 1965, he was named Director of Materiel in the Ministry of National Defense. Soon after Houari Boumedienne's coup, he was put in charge of the Saharan 2nd Motorized Infantry, based around Ain Sefra
Aïn Séfra
Aïn Séfra |spring]]) is a municipality in Naâma Province, Algeria. It is the district seat of Aïn Séfra District and it has a population of 34.962, which gives it 11 seats in the PMA. Its postal code is 45200 and its municipal code is 4503. It is the second most populated municipality in the...
. In 1968, he was sent to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
to help guard the Egypt-Israel line of control, which at the time (just after the Six Day War) witnessed regular artillery bombardments and aerial bombings. After returning from Egypt, he was put in charge of training Algeria's first parachutists, with Soviet help, at Biskra
Biskra
Biskra is the capital city of Biskra province, Algeria. In 2007, its population was recorded as 207,987.During Roman times the town was called Vescera, though this may have been simply a Latin transliteration of the native name. Around 200 AD under Septimius Severus' reign, it was seized by the...
.
In 1975, he went through further training at the Ecole Supérieure de Guerre in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
; at this point, he was a Lieutenant-Colonel. He returned in his second year without finishing his studies, having been summoned back to command troops in Tindouf
Tindouf
Tindouf is the main town in Tindouf Province, Algeria, close to the Mauritanian and Moroccan borders. The region is considered of strategic significance, and it houses Algerian military bases. Since 1975, it also contains several Sahrawi refugee camps operated by the Polisario Front a guerrilla...
at the height of the Moroccan-Algerian conflict over the Western Sahara
Western Sahara
Western Sahara is a disputed territory in North Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria to the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its surface area amounts to . It is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly...
issue. He spent the next seven years in the Bechar
Béchar
Béchar , formerly known as Colomb-Béchar, is a capital city of Béchar Province, Algeria. The area is controlled by Algeria, though claims have also been made on it by Morocco. In 1998 the city had a population of 134,954....
-Tindouf
Tindouf
Tindouf is the main town in Tindouf Province, Algeria, close to the Mauritanian and Moroccan borders. The region is considered of strategic significance, and it houses Algerian military bases. Since 1975, it also contains several Sahrawi refugee camps operated by the Polisario Front a guerrilla...
area.
After Chadli Bendjedid
Chadli Bendjedid
Chadli Bendjedid was the sixth President of Algeria from February 9, 1979 to January 11, 1992.-Early career:...
took power, Nezzar was sent away from Tindouf to the east, a decision which he resented. He rose rapidly through the ranks, and, by 1988, he was a ground forces commander at Ain Naadja in Algiers, where he played a significant role in suppressing the "Black October" riots.
Political career
He became Minister of Defense in July 1990. In his memoirs, he recounts his hostility during this period to the interim prime minister Mouloud HamroucheMouloud Hamrouche
Mouloud Hamrouche was the Prime Minister of Algeria from September 5, 1989 to June 5, 1991. He was born in Constantine, Algeria. He was a leading member of the FLN. However, after serving as prime minister of Algeria he became involved in serious disputes with other party leaders who he said were...
and president Chadli Bendjedid
Chadli Bendjedid
Chadli Bendjedid was the sixth President of Algeria from February 9, 1979 to January 11, 1992.-Early career:...
, whom he accuses of effectively "conniving" with the Islamic Salvation Front
Islamic Salvation Front
The Islamic Salvation Front is an outlawed Islamist political party in Algeria.-Goals:...
for the sake of increasing their power.
After the Islamic Salvation Front
Islamic Salvation Front
The Islamic Salvation Front is an outlawed Islamist political party in Algeria.-Goals:...
's electoral victory in 1991, he, along with 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...
, was among the leading generals who decided to depose then-President Chadli Bendjedid
Chadli Bendjedid
Chadli Bendjedid was the sixth President of Algeria from February 9, 1979 to January 11, 1992.-Early career:...
and annul the elections, marking the beginning 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...
. He became a member of the new provisional governing body, the High Council of State (HCS), when it was established in January 1992. He survived an assassination attempt in February 1993 in El Biar
El Biar
El Biar is a suburb of Algiers, Algeria. It is located in the administrative constituency of Bouzaréah in the Algiers Province. As of the 1998 census, it has a population of 52,582 inhabitants...
(Algiers), and gave up his position five months later, when the HCS's mandate terminated. In 1999, he (unusual for an Algerian general) published his memoirs, written in French and translated into Arabic.
Personal life
In October 2001, Khaled Nezzar's son LotfiLotfi Nezzar
Lotfi Nezzar is an Algerian businessman, son of Major-General Khaled Nezzar. He is vice-president of the Algerian wireless internet provider Smart Link Communication.-External links:* , *...
violently attacked a Le Matin reporter, Sid Ahmed Semiane, for having criticized his father. He had already threatened him several times. Nezzar apologized for his son's actions three days later; his son was eventually found guilty in court, and paid a fine of 12 euros.
In 2002, Nezzar sued the dissident officer Habib Souaidia in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
for defamation. Souaidia had accused him of "being responsible for the assassination of thousands of people", blaming him and other generals for starting the war and committing massacres attributed to the Armed Islamic Group
Armed Islamic Group
The Armed Islamic Group is an Islamist organisation that wants to overthrow the Algerian government and replace it with an Islamic state...
. As the trial began, nine Algerians in Paris filed complaints against Nezzar for torture and inhumane treatment; he left Paris before these could be evaluated, saying he did not want to risk a diplomatic incident. The court found Souaidia innocent.