Mohamed Mediene
Encyclopedia
General Mohamed Mediene also known as Toufik (توفيق), is head of the Algeria
n secret services, the Intelligence and Security Department
(Département du renseignement et de la sécurité, DRS). He was born in 1939 to a Kabyle
family from Guenzet
(Bordj Bou Arréridj Province
), but grew up near Algiers
at Saint-Eugene
(Bologhine
). He joined the National Liberation Army
in 1961, a few months before Algeria
's independence.
Shortly after independence, he studied at a KGB
school. He was then posted to the 2nd military region (around Oran
), then commanded by future President Chadli Bendjedid
, where he established ties with Larbi Belkheir
. In 1983, he was posted to Tripoli
(Libya
) as military attaché. Soon after returning, he became head of the Department of Defense and Security in 1986, under Bendjedid's presidency and Belkheir's term as head of Cabinet. The next year he became head of Army Security, and in September 1990, he became head of the newly created DRS, a post he occupies to this day. The military coup of 1992 only increased his power; in 1993, he was promoted to general-major. In July 2006, he was promoted to Lieutenant General
(Général de corps d'armée.)
He is regarded as a leading power behind the scenes, and a member of the eradicationist faction of the army.
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 secret services, the Intelligence and Security Department
Département du Renseignement et de la Sécurité
The Department of Intelligence and Security is the Algerian state intelligence service. Its existence dates back to the struggle for independence.-Formation:...
(Département du renseignement et de la sécurité, DRS). He was born in 1939 to a Kabyle
Kabyle people
The Kabyle people are the largest homogeneous Algerian ethno-cultural and linguistical community and the largest nation in North Africa to be considered exclusively Berber. Their traditional homeland is Kabylie in the north of Algeria, one hundred miles east of Algiers...
family from Guenzet
Guenzet
Guenzet is a town and commune in Sétif Province in northeastern Algeria.-References:...
(Bordj Bou Arréridj Province
Bordj Bou Arréridj Province
Bordj Bou Arréridj is a province and in the east Algeria around 200 km away from the capital Algiers. It is notable for its many electronic industries . Its capital is Bordj Bou Arreridj...
), but grew up near 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...
at Saint-Eugene
Saint-Eugène
- In Quebec :* Saint-Eugène, L'Islet, former Canadian municipality of Quebec in the administrative region of Chaudière-Appalaches* Saint-Eugène, Quebec, Canadian municipality of Quebec in the administrative region of Centre-du-Québec- In France :...
(Bologhine
Bologhine
Bouloghine is a suburb of the city of Algiers in northern Algeria. It is named after Bologhine ibn Ziri, who founded the city in 944....
). He 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...
in 1961, a few months before 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...
's independence.
Shortly after independence, he studied at a KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
school. He was then posted to the 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...
), then commanded by future President Chadli Bendjedid
Chadli Bendjedid
Chadli Bendjedid was the sixth President of Algeria from February 9, 1979 to January 11, 1992.-Early career:...
, where he established ties 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...
. In 1983, he was posted to Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
(Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
) as military attaché. Soon after returning, he became head of the Department of Defense and Security in 1986, under Bendjedid's presidency and Belkheir's term as head of Cabinet. The next year he became head of Army Security, and in September 1990, he became head of the newly created DRS, a post he occupies to this day. The military coup of 1992 only increased his power; in 1993, he was promoted to general-major. In July 2006, he was promoted to Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
(Général de corps d'armée.)
He is regarded as a leading power behind the scenes, and a member of the eradicationist faction of the army.