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| National Gendarmerie الدرك الوطني | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 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 |
|
TheNational Gendarmerie (Arabic:الدرك الوطني) is thegendarmerie force of thePeople's Democratic Republic of Algeria. A branch of thePeople's National Army, 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 itsindependence.[1] In 2012 thegendarmerie 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]
The current commander is GeneralNouredine Gouasmia, who succeeded GeneralAbderrahmane Arar in 2020.[4]
The 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]
The 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-eightwilayat. It consists of a General Headquarters in Algiers and 6 subordinate Regional Commands (Divisions), plus 4 commands for Recruitment & Training, Intelligence, Administration andDetection. 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:
A 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 44Panhard M3 armored personnel carriers (an APC variant of thePanhard AML.).50Fahd armored personnel carriers, and 28Mi-2 light helicopters and 10AgustaWestland AW109, In addition toAS355 Ecureuil 2 helicopters.[citation needed]
In 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 atSidi Bel Abbes, Theofficers school is atIsser, about 80 kilometers east of Algiers.[3]
The 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 generalAhmed Boustila |
| 2015–2018 | Major GeneralMenad Nouba |
| 2018–2019 | General Ghali Belakcir |
| 2019–2020 | Major General Abderrahmane Arar[6] |
| 2020–2021 | General Nouredine Gouasmia[4] |
| 2021–2025 | Major General Yahia Ali Oulhadj |
| Since 2025 | General Sid Ahmed Bourommana |
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain. Country Studies.Federal Research Division.
