Garde communale

In Algeria, the Garde Communale (Arabic: الحرس البلدي), was a paramilitary troop in charge of monitoring and protecting the municipalities during the Algerian Civil War.[1][2]

Garde Communale
الحرس البلدي
Active3 August 1996–31 October 2012
Country Algeria
AllegianceAlgerian People's National Armed Forces
TypeParamilitary
RoleCounter-insurgency - Counter-terrorism
Size95 000
EngagementsAlgerian Civil War

Creation

The Garde Communale was created in 1996 as an auxiliary force by the Algerian government, under the impetus of the Algerian People's National Armed Forces authority. It played a significant role counter-terrorism warfare against armed Islamist groups.[3][4]

History
Roadblock of Garde Communale
Demonstration of former members of Garde Communale
Main article: Algerian Civil War

During the Algerian Civil War, the Algerian Army forces responsible for the security of the country in the big cities and the communes, were confronted with surging terrorist attacks which caused many losses in their ranks.[5]

The military authorities, eager to relieve the army, which practically alone bore the weight of the anti-guerrilla warfare, decided, jointly with the Ministry of the Interior, to create a communal guard on 3 August 1996.[6]

To do this, they recruit from the same pool as the guerrilla factions and local armed bands. Young people from the former Islamic Salvation Front join the municipal guard, by political calculation or by necessity. In the difficult economic situation of young people, a job in security is a godsend.[7]

The recruits were supervised by the Gendarmerie Nationale and received an accelerated training of two months, wore the uniform and were paid, the government was able to offer them advantages such as housing and cars, but remained suspicious and did not entrust them with more sophisticated weaponry.[8][9]

The Garde Communale was placed under the authority of the mayors of the DEC (Communal Executive Delegation) and the walis (prefects) and integrated into the new anti-guerrilla fight system, the communal guard succeeded in securing reconquered urban areas and allowing the army counter-terrorist corps to undertake its first attacks against the Armed Islamic Group maquis in 1994.[10]

Members of the communal guard did not leave city centers in their early stages, and were only ever operational inside urban centers.[11]

The Garde Communale was sometimes employed in search operations against armed Islamist groups in the mountains.[12]

Dissolution

The Garde Communale was dissolved by decree on 31 October 2012.[13][14]

See also

References
  1. "Arrêté interministériel du 26 juillet 2004 fixant les programmes de la formation spécialisée pour l'accès au corps de la garde communale (JORA n°56)". Ministère de l'Intérieur et de Collectivités locales.
  2. "Treize gardes communaux tués après l'explosion d'une bombe". Le Monde.fr. June 9, 2005 – via Le Monde.
  3. "ALGÉRIE : 11 gardes communaux tués près de Bir el-Ater". Le Monde.fr. October 16, 2001 – via Le Monde.
  4. l'Etat oeuvrera à répondre aux préoccupations des éléments de la Garde communale
  5. "Le gouvernement désormais confronté à la grogne des gardes communaux". France 24. March 7, 2011.
  6. Le ministère de l'Intérieur en contact permanent avec les gardes communaux pour satisfaire leurs revendications
  7. "Les gardes communaux maintiennent la pression: Toute l'actualité sur liberte-algerie.com". www.liberte-algerie.com.
  8. "Gardes communaux | Radio Algérienne". www.radioalgerie.dz.
  9. "Mascara : Les anciens gardes communaux reviennent à la charge | El Watan". www.elwatan.com.
  10. Ex-gardes communaux : Le retour de la colère | REPORTERS ALGERIE
  11. "Biskra : Les anciens gardes communaux montent au créneau | El Watan". www.elwatan.com.
  12. "Les gardes communaux reviennent à la charge: Toute l'actualité sur liberte-algerie.com". www.liberte-algerie.com.
  13. "Photos. Des gardes communaux défilent à Alger malgré l'interdiction". Le Monde.fr.
  14. Mouvement social :Nouveau malaise chez les ex-gardes communaux | REPORTERS ALGERIE
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.