Algeria Thwarts ‘Dangerous Conspiracy’ against Institutions, Says Army Chief of Staff
Algeria faced a “dangerous plot” targeting its institutions in 2019, Algerian Army Chief of Staff Saïd Chengriha said on Monday December 30th, stating that the army was able to thwart these plans.
“Recently, we passed alongside our people a sensitive period during which our country was exposed to a serious conspiracy,” he said.
During a meeting with army officials, Chengriha said that the plot was aimed at “striking at the stability of Algeria, undermining the pillars of the state, neutralising its constitutional institutions and pushing it into a quagmire of chaos and violence,” AFP reported.
Along with security concerns, the army has contributed to the success of organising free, fair, and transparent presidential elections, securing the electoral process and ensuring an atmosphere of calm and tranquillity,” he said.
The army chief affirmed that the army will remain at the service of the country and will not abandon its obligations towards the people, stressing that the Algerian armed forces will continue to confront its enemies and everyone who tries to violate the country’s sovereignty, Sky News Arabia reported.
The Algerian army has rejected all foreign interventions to solve the political crisis in the country. The army contributed to the holding of elections on December 12th in which former Prime Minister Abdelmadjid Tebboune was elected as President, despite widespread boycotting of the elections.
The late Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaid Salah, died suddenly on Monday December 23rd of a heart attack at the age of 79, after drawing up state policy in response to popular protests that continued throughout the year demanding a comprehensive change of the ruling elite.
Salah angered the protesters, who accused him of working to keep the army and the rest of the ruling elite in power after he helped topple veteran President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in April, Reuters reported.
But many credited him with the largely restrained military response to the mass protests in several cities across the country.
