Mohamed Lamari
Encyclopedia
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 (near Biskra
). He joined the French
army, completing his training in the cavalry at the Ecole de guerre in Saumur
. In 1961, seven years into the Algerian War of Independence
(and just a year before independence), he changed sides, joining the National Liberation Army
. After independence, he trained as an artilleryman at the Frunze Military Academy, then as a general staff officer at the Ecole de Guerre in Paris
. From 1970 to 1976 he commanded a regional general staff, then he worked in the general staff operational bureau until 1988, when he became commander of the 5th military region (eastern Algeria around Constantine
). In 1989, he became commander of ground forces.
In the military coup of 1992 that started the Algerian Civil War
, he was prominent among the officers demanding then-President Chadli Bendjedid
's resignation. According to Mohamed Samraoui
, he was relieved of his functions by the next President, the short-lived Mohamed Boudiaf, in March 1992, and only regained them after Boudiaf's assassination. He was then put in charge of an anti-terrorism task force of 15,000 soldiers, the CCLAS (Centre de commandement de la lutte antisubversive). In July 1993, as Liamine Zeroual
became Minister of Defense, Mohamed Lamari became Chief of Staff, a post in which he would remain for more than a decade of war.
In 2002, he caused some controversy by publicly claiming that the military was no longer involved in national politics, the crisis of the 1990s being past; this claim angered other generals. In August 2004, he resigned and retired, ostensibly for health reasons; he was rumoured to have had differences with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
. He was replaced by General Salah Ahmed Gaid.
Lamari's sons include Farid (a military dentist) and Mourad, an adviser at the Algerian embassy to Belgium
.
Politically, he was considered an eradicationist
, rejecting the idea of negotiation with the government's Islamist opponents. In his capacity as head of the CCLAS, he was accused by Mohamed Samraoui
of ultimately controlling the Organisation of Young Free Algerians
, a pro-government armed group claiming credit for various attacks on civilians.
He is not related to Smain Lamari
, another prominent Algerian general.
Chief of Staff of the People's National Army
The Chief of Staff of the People's National Army is the highest position in the Algerian People's National Army. It was left empty for many years after Chief of Staff Tahar Zbiri attempted a coup against President Houari Boumedienne.-Chiefs of Staff:...
during most 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 was born on 7 June 1939 in Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, to a family originally from Bordj Benazzouz (near 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...
). He joined the French
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...
army, completing his training in the cavalry at the Ecole de guerre in Saumur
Saumur
Saumur is a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France.The historic town is located between the Loire and Thouet rivers, and is surrounded by the vineyards of Saumur itself, Chinon, Bourgueil, Coteaux du Layon, etc...
. In 1961, seven 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...
(and just a year before independence), he changed sides, joining 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, he trained as an artilleryman at the Frunze Military Academy, then as a general staff officer at the Ecole 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...
. From 1970 to 1976 he commanded a regional general staff, then he worked in the general staff operational bureau until 1988, when he became commander of the 5th military region (eastern Algeria around Constantine
Constantine, Algeria
Constantine is the capital of Constantine Province in north-eastern Algeria. It was the capital of the same-named French département until 1962. Slightly inland, it is about 80 kilometres from the Mediterranean coast, on the banks of Rhumel river...
). In 1989, he became commander of ground forces.
In the military coup of 1992 that started 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 was prominent among the officers demanding then-President Chadli Bendjedid
Chadli Bendjedid
Chadli Bendjedid was the sixth President of Algeria from February 9, 1979 to January 11, 1992.-Early career:...
's resignation. According to Mohamed Samraoui
Mohamed Samraoui
Mohamed Samraoui is a former member of the Algerian secret services who wrote a book claiming that the DRS had been involved in torture and extralegal killings, and had manipulated the Armed Islamic Groups on a large scale to commit further massacres.He joined the Algerian army in July 1974...
, he was relieved of his functions by the next President, the short-lived Mohamed Boudiaf, in March 1992, and only regained them after Boudiaf's assassination. He was then put in charge of an anti-terrorism task force of 15,000 soldiers, the CCLAS (Centre de commandement de la lutte antisubversive). In July 1993, as 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...
became Minister of Defense, Mohamed Lamari became Chief of Staff, a post in which he would remain for more than a decade of war.
In 2002, he caused some controversy by publicly claiming that the military was no longer involved in national politics, the crisis of the 1990s being past; this claim angered other generals. In August 2004, he resigned and retired, ostensibly for health reasons; he was rumoured to have had differences with President Abdelaziz 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...
. He was replaced by General Salah Ahmed Gaid.
Lamari's sons include Farid (a military dentist) and Mourad, an adviser at the Algerian embassy to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
Politically, he was considered an eradicationist
Eradicator (Algerian politics)
In the Algerian Civil War, a popular analysis divided the ruling generals into two factions. The eradicators were those who opposed negotiation with what they termed terrorists, preferring to "eradicate" them...
, rejecting the idea of negotiation with the government's Islamist opponents. In his capacity as head of the CCLAS, he was accused by Mohamed Samraoui
Mohamed Samraoui
Mohamed Samraoui is a former member of the Algerian secret services who wrote a book claiming that the DRS had been involved in torture and extralegal killings, and had manipulated the Armed Islamic Groups on a large scale to commit further massacres.He joined the Algerian army in July 1974...
of ultimately controlling the Organisation of Young Free Algerians
Organisation of Young Free Algerians
The Organization of Young Free Algerians claimed credit for various attacks against civilian Islamist sympathisers during the Algerian Civil War, claiming to be a pro-government armed group. It was active mainly in 1994 and 1995...
, a pro-government armed group claiming credit for various attacks on civilians.
He is not related to Smain Lamari
Smain Lamari
Major General Smain Lamari was the head of an Algerian intelligence service, the Department of Counter-Espionage and Internal Security. Along with Generals Mohamed Lamari , Khaled Nezzar, Larbi Belkheir and "Toufik" Médiène, he was one of the influential Algerian Generals. Lamari was close to...
, another prominent Algerian general.