Larbi Belkheir
Encyclopedia
Maj.-Gen. Larbi Belkheir (or Joseph Aboulker) was a noted Algeria
n retired general and political figure.
He was born in Frenda
(now in Tiaret Province
) 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
. After independence in 1962, he was sent to the Soviet Union
for further training. After returning, he became chief of staff at Ouargla
, then for the entire 2nd military region (around Oran
). In 1975, he became director of ENITA, a military technical institute at Bordj El Bahri
. He was close to the next president, Chadli Bendjedid
, whom he helped choose; under Bendjedid's rule, he became head of the High Council for Security, secretary-general of the presidency, and head of the Cabinet, and attained the rank of major-general. From 18 October 1991 to 19 July 1992, during Algeria's first free elections, he was Minister of the Interior.
However, in 1992, dissatisfied with the election results, he helped lead the military coup that deposed Chadli Bendjedid
and annulled the elections, starting the Algerian Civil War
. In 1999, he helped Bouteflika
become president, and shortly afterwards, in October 2000, became head of his Cabinet.
In August 2005, he was appointed ambassador to Morocco
.
In 2001, Belkheir was accused by Hichem Abboud of ordering the assassination of FFS activist Ali Mecili in Paris
in 1987; he responded by unsuccessfully suing Abboud for libel. In December 2003, a refugee, Mehdi Mosbah, filed a suit against Belkheir in Paris for torture, on the basis that he had headed the Interior Ministry at the time and was thus responsible for police conduct; however, Belkheir left France soon after.
He died on 28 January 2010, Morgue de Ain Naadja, and was buried at Ben Aknoun
cemetery.
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 retired general and political figure.
He was born in Frenda
Frenda
Frenda is a town and commune in Tiaret Province in northwestern Algeria. It is best known for ancient Berber monumental tombs known as Jedars. -Notable people:* Larbi Belkheir - Algerian politician* Abdelkader Benayada - Algerian association football player...
(now in Tiaret Province
Tiaret Province
Tiaret is a province of Algeria. The capital is Tiaret.-Administrative division:The province is divided into 14 districts , which are further divided into 42 communes or municipalities.-Districts:# Aïn Deheb# Aïn Kermes...
) in 1938, and joined the French army, reaching the rank of second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
. In 1960, six years into 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 changed sides and joined the National Liberation Army
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...
. After independence in 1962, he was sent to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
for further training. After returning, he became chief of staff at Ouargla
Ouargla
Ouargla is the capital city of Ouargla province, in the Sahara Desert, in southern Algeria. It has a flourishing oil industry, and hosts one of Algeria's universities. The city had a population of 129,402 in 1998 ....
, then for the entire 2nd military region (around Oran
Oran
Oran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
). In 1975, he became director of ENITA, a military technical institute at Bordj El Bahri
Bordj El Bahri
Bordj El Bahri is a suburb of the city of Algiers in northern Algeria. Bordj El Bahri is on the peninsula that forms the eastern side of Algiers Bay....
. He was close to the next 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 helped choose; under Bendjedid's rule, he became head of the High Council for Security, secretary-general of the presidency, and head of the Cabinet, and attained the rank of major-general. From 18 October 1991 to 19 July 1992, during Algeria's first free elections, he was Minister of the Interior.
However, in 1992, dissatisfied with the election results, he helped lead the military coup that deposed Chadli Bendjedid
Chadli Bendjedid
Chadli Bendjedid was the sixth President of Algeria from February 9, 1979 to January 11, 1992.-Early career:...
and annulled the elections, starting 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...
. In 1999, he helped Bouteflika
Abdelaziz Bouteflika
Abdelaziz Bouteflika is the ninth President of Algeria. He has been in office since 1999. He continued emergency rule until 24 February 2011, and presided over the end of the bloody Algerian Civil War in 2002...
become president, and shortly afterwards, in October 2000, became head of his Cabinet.
In August 2005, he was appointed ambassador to Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
.
In 2001, Belkheir was accused by Hichem Abboud of ordering the assassination of FFS activist Ali Mecili 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...
in 1987; he responded by unsuccessfully suing Abboud for libel. In December 2003, a refugee, Mehdi Mosbah, filed a suit against Belkheir in Paris for torture, on the basis that he had headed the Interior Ministry at the time and was thus responsible for police conduct; however, Belkheir left France soon after.
He died on 28 January 2010, Morgue de Ain Naadja, and was buried at Ben Aknoun
Ben Aknoun
Ben Aknoun is a suburb of the city of Algiers in northern Algeria....
cemetery.