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The Gendarmerie Nationale (Arabic: الدرك الوطني), is the national gendarmerie force of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria. As part of the Algerian Armed Forces is commanded by a major general who reports directly to the Minister of National Defense. It was created in 1962 by Decree No.019-62 of 23 August 1962 shortly after its independence.[1] In 2012 the gendarmerie consists of 130,000 personnel.[2] Although generally regarded as a versatile and competent paramilitary force, the gendarmerie has been severely tested in dealing with civil disorder since 1988. It frequently has lacked sufficient manpower at the scene of disorder and its units have been inadequately trained and equipped for riot control. The gendarmerie, however, has demonstrated the ability to root out terrorist groups operating from mountain hideouts.[3]
| National Gendarmerie الدرك الوطني Gendarmerie Nationale | |
|---|---|
| Common name | Gendarmerie |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 23 August 1962 |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| National agency | Algeria |
| Operations jurisdiction | Algeria |
| Constituting instrument |
|
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Chéraga, Algiers |
| Sworn members | 130,000 |
| Minister responsible | |
| Agency executive |
|
The current commander is General Nouredine Gouasmia, who succeeded General Abderrahmane Arar in 2020.[4]
Duties
editThe gendarmerie is responsible for maintaining law and order in villages, towns, and rural areas; providing security surveillance over local inhabitants; and representing government authority in remote regions, especially where tensions and conflicts have occurred in the past.[3]
Organization
editThe gendarmerie is organized in battalions, whose component companies and platoons are dispersed to individual communities and desert outposts. Its regional headquarters are in the same cities as the six military regional headquarters with subdivisions in the forty-eight wilayat. It consists of a General Headquarters in Algiers and 6 subordinate Regional Commands (Divisions), plus 4 commands for Recruitment & Training, Intelligence, Administration and Detection. The 6 Regional Commands each command 3 to 4 "Brigades".[3]
Several specialized units also exist within the gendarmerie, and were established to confront the increase in crimes and criminals:
- Administrative Unit
- Aerial Training Formation
- Border Guards Unit, created on November 17, 1977
- Cultural Heritage Protection Unit
- Environmental Protection Unit
- Juvenile Protection Brigade, created in 2011
- Security and Intervention Detachment
- Special Intervention Detachment, created on August 27, 1989[5]
Equipment
editA highly mobile force, the gendarmerie possesses a modern communications system connecting its various units with one another and with the army. Equipment includes light armored weapons and transport and patrol vehicles.[3]
The force in 1993 had 44 Panhard M3 armored personnel carriers (an APC variant of the Panhard AML.). 50 Fahd armored personnel carriers, and 28 Mi-2 light helicopters and 10 AgustaWestland AW109, In addition to AS355 Ecureuil 2 helicopters.[citation needed]
Training
editIn addition to utilizing training provided by the French since independence, the gendarmerie operates its own schools for introductory and advanced studies. The gendarmerie's main training center is at Sidi Bel Abbes, The officers school is at Isser, about 80 kilometers east of Algiers.[3]
Commandment
editThe commandment of gendarmerie was successively entrusted to:
| Années | Commandement |
|---|---|
| 1962-1977 | Colonel Ahmed Bencherif |
| 1977-1986 | General Mostepha Cheloufi |
| 1986-1987 | General Zine El Abidine Hachichi |
| 1987-1997 | Army corps general Abbas Gheziel |
| 1997-2000 | Major General Tayeb Derradji |
| 2000-2015 | Army corps general Ahmed Boustila |
| 2015-2018 | Major General Menad Nouba |
| 2018-2019 | General Ghali Belakcir |
| 2019-2020 | Major General Abderrahmane Arar[6] |
| Since 2020 | General Nouredine Gouasmia[4] |
See also
editNotes
edit
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Country Studies. Federal Research Division.
- ^ a b l'arrêté n° 019-62 du 23 août 1962. portant création de la Gendarmerie Nationale (l'arrêté 019-62) (in French). 1962.
- ^ Lutterbeck, Derek (2013), The Paradox of Gendarmeries: Between Expansion, Demilitarization and Dissolution (PDF), The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, pp. 39–41, doi:10.5334/bbs, ISBN 9781911529354, archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-07-27, retrieved 2021-12-19
- ^ a b c d e Metz, Helen Chapin, ed. (1994). Algeria : a country study. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. p. 27. LCCN 94043019.
- ^ a b "Tebboune nomme le général Gouasmia commandant de la Gendarmerie nationale". Algeria Press Service (in French). 2020-08-04. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
- ^ "Le Détachement spécial d'intervention (aussi connu comme le DSI)". Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. 2020-06-01. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
- ^ "Le général Abderrahmane Arar remplace le général Ghali Belkecir à la tête de la gendarmerie nationale". elwatan.com (in French). 2019-07-24. Archived from the original on 2023-01-31. Retrieved 2021-12-19.