By RFIPosted on 12/30/2019 Modified on 12/30/2019 at 10:12 p.m.

Acting chief of staff Said Chengriha spoke publicly for the first time since the death of his predecessor, the powerful general Ahmed Gaïd Salah. Said Chengriha spoke in a meeting with "the executives of the Ministry of Defense and the army staff". Words relayed in a press release, in the form of a tribute to the action of the military.

While his predecessor used to speak directly to the population after the removal of President Bouteflika, it was to the military that Said Chengriha came to deliver his balance sheet for the year.

The acting chief of staff estimated that Algeria had gone through “ a sensitive stage ”. The country had to " face, according to him, a dangerous plot " aimed at " its stability and the foundations of the state ", " to drag it into the quagmire of chaos and violence ". Words that refer to a fringe of the popular protest movement of Hirak , accused of being manipulated by the foreigner.

General Chengriha, on the other hand, paid tribute to the military high command, which " knew how to manage this phase with wisdom and foresight ", according to him.

Leaving aside the numerous arrests and the sometimes severe repression of the demonstrators, he estimated that it was the army which took care of " the protection of the peaceful marches " and which knew how to guarantee " national unity ". On December 12, a large majority of Algerians deserted the ballot boxes as a sign of disagreement.

Said Chengriha draws a whole other balance, and praises the " efforts " of the military command for the " securing of the presidential elections in a climate of security and tranquility ".

However, the ballot took place in a climate of tension, and the vote was even very disturbed by demonstrations, in Kabylia in particular. The demonstration last Friday (the 45th Friday in protest in the country) gathered fewer protesters than usual, a few days after the death of Ahmed Gaïd Salah and the inauguration of President Tebboune.

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