Special Operations.Com

Algeria

Special Operations and Counterterrorist Forces

1.  Ministry of the Interior

1.1.  Units of the DGSN (National Security General Directorate)

URS, Unités Républicaines de Sécurité – Republican Security Units

These are units initially tasked with duties as public order enforcement and the protection of sensible sites. Because of the terrorist threat, they were forced to adapt and to transform themselves into rapid intervention & CT units. Men should take into notice that before 1992-93, there were no units effectively specialised in CT missions.

The URS main complex and command center is situated at the El Hamiz barracks in Algiers. The URS count app. 45 operational units; i.e. almost 1 operational unit for each geographical department (= wilaya). Each unit is organised into 4 Intervention and 1 Command & Support Section.

URS Command has also the responsability over the SCAP – Central Service for Pyrotechnical Activities (= bomb squad), whose mission is to dispose of explosive devices and mines.

In the course of the years, and with the experience gained in fighting terrorism, such missions were passed to other Police services, specially created for that purpose. These are:

BMPJ, Brigades Mobiles de la Police Judiciaire – Judicial Police Mobile Brigades

SCRB, Service Central de Répression du Banditisme – Crime-Fighting Central Service

1.2.  Units of the DCST (Directorate for the Co-ordination of Territorial Security)

DCST’s Special Group

Counter-Intelligence service of the Ministry of the Interior.

(The main CI agency in Algeria is the DRS).

2.  Ministry of National Defense

2.1. Units of the Gendarmerie Nationale

The Gendarmerie Nationale is a paramilitary corps.

DSI, Détachement Spécial d’Intervention – Special Intervention Detachment

Assault & Rapid Intervention unit.

Brigade Spéciale – Special Brigade

Also named ‘Brigade 127’.

Garde Républicaine – Republican Guard

Elite corps of the Gendarmerie, responsible among other duties for the protection of the President in a broad perspective, and for the protection of presidential resorts. Acts also as Honor Guard.

2.2.  Units of the DRS (Research & Security Directorate)

The DRS is the main Intelligence agency, tasked with internal security, counter-intelligence, military security and intelligence gathering missions. Very few sources of information are available on the DRS or on its organisation. Known sub-units are:

Special Unit of the Service Action

Tasked with sensitive missions at different levels. Similar units are subordinated to others sub-directorates of the DRS (like CI).

GIS, Groupe d’Intervention Spécial – Special Intervention Group

Created at the end of the 1970s, its existence was kept secret for a long time, until a Second Lieutenant of this unit killed President BOUDIAF at Annaba, on June 29, 1992, where the GIS was backing-up the Presidential security services.

Despite this event, the unit remains wrapped in secret. It is known that the GIS participates efficiently and successfully in many CT-missions, especially in Algiers, where it is based. There is also a facility at Blida, 50 km of Algiers.

3.  Military Units

Due to the organisation of the Algerian Armed Forces, where the distinction between Ground, Air and Naval Forces is relative, the military special forces of the three arms operate with eachother, sharing training facilities. The Air Force provides the aircraft and helicopters for the operations of other branches of the Armed Forces. The school at Biskra is long known for its training of all the three branches’ special forces.

3.1.  Army Units

Saaykaa (= Commando)

Based at different places in Algeria. Sometimes participating in CT operations in co-ordination with other types of special units. These units are formed at Boughar, Medea Wilaya, 75 km SW of Algiers.

The ‘Special Troops’

Include the Airborne forces, the air assault and reconnaissance units and some specialised assault and combat groups (of which the names remain somewhat confidential).

A well-known unit is the 18° Régiment Parachutiste Commando (Special Force Airborne Regiment), trained and formed at the Special Troops Implementation School at Biskra, 330 km SE of Algiers.

3.2.  Naval Units (Marine Nationale)

The Navy’s Special Forces include 1) the so-called Marine Fusiliers and 2) the Offensive (Combat) Divers. Both are trained at the school of Jiel, 250 km E. of Algiers.

3.3.  Air Force Units

The Special Forces of the Air Force are the ‘Air Commando Fusiliers’, seemingly similar to the Airborne units, but in fact only airmobile. Act as security and protection force for the Air Force sites/bases.

These troops are trained at the CIFA (‘Air Forces Instruction Center’) at Mechria, 485 km SW of Algiers.

For more information on Algeria, check here.