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Nezzar KhaledAlgerian military and statesman
Date of Birth: 25.12.1937
Country:  Algeria |
Content:
- Khalil Nezzar: Algerian Military and Political Leader
- Military Career
- Rise to Prominence
- Role in the Algerian Civil War
- Personal Life and Controversies
Khalil Nezzar: Algerian Military and Political Leader
Early Life and EducationKhalil Nezzar was born in the Berber village of Tkhelt, near Batna, Algeria. His father served as a non-commissioned officer in the French army. After attending local schools, Nezzar joined the French army and trained at the Strasbourg military academy, earning the rank of sergeant.
Military Career
In 1958, Nezzar defected from the French army and joined the National Liberation Front (FLN). Following Algeria's independence in 1962, he remained in the Algerian army and rose through the ranks. He received military training in Moscow and was appointed director of the department of military equipment in the Ministry of Defense.
Nezzar played a significant role in the overthrow of President Houari Boumédiène and the establishment of the Supreme Revolutionary Council. He commanded the 2nd Motorized Brigade and assisted in protecting the Egyptian-Israeli "line of control" during the Six-Day War. He later oversaw the training of Algeria's first paratroopers with Soviet assistance.
In 1975, Nezzar began studies at the École Supérieure de Guerre in Paris, but was recalled to command troops in Tindouf during the Western Sahara conflict. He spent the next seven years in the region before being reassigned to the east by President Chadli Bendjedid.
Rise to Prominence
Nezzar continued his rapid ascent, becoming commander-in-chief of the land forces in 1988. He played a crucial role in suppressing the riots known as the "Black October." In 1990, he was appointed Minister of Defense.
Role in the Algerian Civil War
Nezzar opposed the electoral victory of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in 1991 and joined a group of generals who overthrew President Bendjedid and annulled the election, sparking the Algerian Civil War. He became a member of the new ruling body, the High State Council.
Nezzar survived an assassination attempt in 1993 and resigned from his post five months later. In 1999, he published his controversial memoirs, in which he accused former President Bendjedid and Prime Minister Mouloud Hamrouche of appeasement.
Personal Life and Controversies
Nezzar's son, Lotfi, was involved in several incidents of assault and intimidation against journalists. In 2002, Nezzar sued opposition figure Habib Souaïdia for libel in Paris, alleging that he had been responsible for the deaths of thousands of people during the civil war. The trial was suspended after several Algerians in Paris testified against Nezzar, alleging torture and inhumane treatment.
