Département du Renseignement et de la Sécurité
Encyclopedia
The Department of Intelligence and Security (DIS) is the Algeria
n state intelligence service. Its existence dates back to the struggle for independence.
, whose role was to lead both the national and international networks of the FLN
. After independence in 1962, and particularly with the accession of Houari Boumédiène
to the leadership of the country in 1965, the Algerian intelligence services greatly professionalised and institutionalised.
Nations. Renamed Sécurité Militaire (SM) its directives were to :
The first appointed Chairman of Military Security was the colonel Kasdi Merbah
who stayed until the death of president Boumédiène in 1978. Then he was succeeded for a short time by colonel Yazid Zerhouni. President Chadli Bendjedid
, who mistrusted the SM, dismantled it and renamed it the DGPS. Chadli appointed to the chair of the DGPS general Lakehal Ayat, reorganising the agency to work solely in foreign intelligence.
The events of October 1988 caused president Chadli Bendjedid to dismiss General Ayat, who was succeeded by General Betchine. His tenure saw major political change, beginning with the advent of a multi-party political system and the rise of the Islamist movement of the FIS
. It was in this period that the DGPS reasserted its role in internal security, becoming an active player in the Algerian Civil War
of the 1990s.
The Services changed its name once again, from DGPS to DRS, with the appointment of its current head in November 1990, General Mohamed Mediène. Outside observers have charged that Mediène was one of the junta of generals who forced the cancellation the 1991 elections which the Islamists were set to win, plunging the nation into civil war, and greatly increasing the power of the military—and the DRS—in Algeria's government.
GIS (Groupe d'Intervention Spécial) is a special force (300 members) under the direction of the DRS.
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 state intelligence service. Its existence dates back to the struggle for independence.
Formation
The DRS was formed during the Algerian War for independence, under the direction by Abdelhafid BoussoufAbdelhafid Boussouf
Abdelhafid Boussouf was an Algerian nationalist and a leader of the Front de libération nationale during the Algerian war of independence . He was a member of the GPRA exile government, serving as minister of armaments...
, whose role was to lead both the national and international networks of the FLN
Front de Libération Nationale
Front de Libération Nationale may refer to:* National Liberation Front , a socialist political party founded in 1954 for independence from France for Algeria...
. After independence in 1962, and particularly with the accession of Houari Boumédiène
Houari Boumediene
Houari Boumedienne served as Algeria's Chairman of the Revolutionary Council from 19 June 1965 until 12 December 1976, and from then on as the fourth President of Algeria to his death on 27 December 1978.- Background :Mohamed Ben Brahim Boukharouba was born near Héliopolis in the province of...
to the leadership of the country in 1965, the Algerian intelligence services greatly professionalised and institutionalised.
Organisation
This change of internal organisation was modeled to a large extent on the intelligence and internal security services of the then Eastern blocEastern bloc
The term Eastern Bloc or Communist Bloc refers to the former communist states of Eastern and Central Europe, generally the Soviet Union and the countries of the Warsaw Pact...
Nations. Renamed Sécurité Militaire (SM) its directives were to :
- Counter-espionageCounter-Espionage-Cast:* Warren William as Michael Lanyard* Eric Blore as Jamison* Hillary Brooke as Pamela Hart* Thurston Hall as Insp. Crane* Fred Kelsey as Detective Wesley Dickens* Forrest Tucker as Anton Schugg* Matthew Boulton as Inspector J...
- Internal securityInternal securityInternal security, or IS, is the act of keeping peace within the borders of a sovereign state or other self-governing territories. generally by upholding the national law and defending against internal security threats...
- Foreign intelligence
The first appointed Chairman of Military Security was the colonel Kasdi Merbah
Kasdi Merbah
Kasdi Merbah was the prime minister of Algeria from November 5, 1988 until September 9, 1989.He was a member of the FLN, which ruled the country at that time. He was assassinated on August 22, 1993....
who stayed until the death of president Boumédiène in 1978. Then he was succeeded for a short time by colonel Yazid Zerhouni. President Chadli Bendjedid
Chadli Bendjedid
Chadli Bendjedid was the sixth President of Algeria from February 9, 1979 to January 11, 1992.-Early career:...
, who mistrusted the SM, dismantled it and renamed it the DGPS. Chadli appointed to the chair of the DGPS general Lakehal Ayat, reorganising the agency to work solely in foreign intelligence.
The events of October 1988 caused president Chadli Bendjedid to dismiss General Ayat, who was succeeded by General Betchine. His tenure saw major political change, beginning with the advent of a multi-party political system and the rise of the Islamist movement of the FIS
Islamic Salvation Front
The Islamic Salvation Front is an outlawed Islamist political party in Algeria.-Goals:...
. It was in this period that the DGPS reasserted its role in internal security, becoming an active player in 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...
of the 1990s.
The Services changed its name once again, from DGPS to DRS, with the appointment of its current head in November 1990, General Mohamed Mediène. Outside observers have charged that Mediène was one of the junta of generals who forced the cancellation the 1991 elections which the Islamists were set to win, plunging the nation into civil war, and greatly increasing the power of the military—and the DRS—in Algeria's government.
GIS (Groupe d'Intervention Spécial) is a special force (300 members) under the direction of the DRS.
Chairmen of the DRS
- Abdelhafid BoussoufAbdelhafid BoussoufAbdelhafid Boussouf was an Algerian nationalist and a leader of the Front de libération nationale during the Algerian war of independence . He was a member of the GPRA exile government, serving as minister of armaments...
from 1954 à 1958 - Houari BoumédièneHouari BoumedieneHouari Boumedienne served as Algeria's Chairman of the Revolutionary Council from 19 June 1965 until 12 December 1976, and from then on as the fourth President of Algeria to his death on 27 December 1978.- Background :Mohamed Ben Brahim Boukharouba was born near Héliopolis in the province of...
from 1958 to 1965 - Kasdi MerbahKasdi MerbahKasdi Merbah was the prime minister of Algeria from November 5, 1988 until September 9, 1989.He was a member of the FLN, which ruled the country at that time. He was assassinated on August 22, 1993....
from 1965 to 1978 - Yazid ZerhouniYazid ZerhouniNoureddine Yazid Zerhouni is the former interior minister of Algeria. In 2000, he was hospitalized on Baltimore, Maryland with an undisclosed condition.-References:...
from 1979-1981 - Lakehal Ayat from 1981 to 1988
- Mohamed Betchine from 1988 to 1990
- Mohamed MedièneMohamed MedieneGeneral Mohamed Mediene , also known as Toufik , is head of the Algerian secret services, the Intelligence and Security Department . He was born in 1939 to a Kabyle family from Guenzet , but grew up near Algiers at Saint-Eugene...
from 1990 until today
Allegations of torture
Amnesty International has repeatedly claimed that the DRS engages in unlawful arrest, detention and torture."officials of the Departement du Renseignement et de la Securite (DRS), Department of Information and Security, also known as Military Security, continue to torture uncharged detainees held in their custody. ...The DRS runs its own detention centres where detainees are held incommunicado and subject to torture. ...DRS officials continue to be allowed to commit torture with impunity. Algeria's civil authorities, in practice, have no control over their activities and judicial authorities routinely fail to investigate allegations of abuse by the DRS or to inspect their detention prisons, although they are legally required to do so."