Mohamed Mediène

Who is Mohamed Mediène?

General Mohamed Mediene, also known as Toufik, is head of the Algerian secret services, the Intelligence and Security Department. He was born in 1939 to a Kabyle family from Guenzet, but grew up near Algiers at Saint-Eugene. 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, then commanded by future President Chadli Bendjedid, where he established ties with Larbi Belkheir. In 1983, he was posted to Tripoli 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

He is regarded as a leading power behind the scenes, and a member of the eradicationist faction of the army.