Algerian military officer (1929–2024)
Tahar Zbiri (Arabic: الطاهر زبيري, romanized: aṭ-Ṭāhar Zbīrī; 4 April 1929 – 30 October 2024) was an Algerian military officer, best known for his role in the country's post-independence military and political developments, particularly his involvement in an attempted coup against the government of president Houari Boumédiène in 1967.[1]
Zbiri served in the Algerian People's National Army as a colonel, the highest rank that existed during the regime of Houari Boumédiène, the second head of the state.[2] Zbiri led an unsuccessful coup attempt against president Houari Boumédiène in 1967 after participating in the 1965 military takeover.[3]
Early life
Zbiri was born on 4 April 1929,[4][5] in Sedrata, Algeria.[3][6]
In the early 1950s, Zbiri worked as a team leader in the Ouenza mines, where he gained significant experience in trade union activities through his involvement with the Union générale des syndicats algériens (General Confederation of Labor (CGT)), a French trade union. His unionist background led him to join the nationalist movement under the Parti du Peuple Algérien–Mouvement pour le Triomphe des Libertés Démocratiques (PPA-MTLD).[3]
On 1 November 1954, the date marking the beginning of the Algerian War of Independence, Zbiri played a key role in organizing the armed uprising in the Guelma region.[3] In 1955, he was arrested and sentenced to death by French colonial authorities but managed to escape from Constantine prison in November 1955, along with Mostefa Ben Boulaïd, a prominent Algerian revolutionary leader.[7] Following his escape, Zbiri joined the Armée de Libération Nationale (ALN), the military branch of the National Liberation Front (FLN), and became an officer in the Aurès maquis (resistance fighters). By 1959, Zbiri had risen through the ranks and was appointed a member of the National Council of the Algerian Revolution (CNRA), achieving the rank of colonel. From 1960 to 1962, he served as the commander of Wilaya I (Aurès region), one of the key military zones in the Algerian liberation struggle.[3] In 1962, as Algeria approached independence, Zbiri facilitated the integration of rebels from Wilaya I with the political camp in Tlemcen, which was aligned with Ahmed Ben Bella, who would later become the first president of independent Algeria.[3]
After Algeria gained independence, Zbiri was appointed to command the 5th Military Region and was actively engaged in the reorganization of the newly formed Algerian People's National Army (ANP). In 1963, Zbiri was promoted to chief of staff of the People's National Army, while maintaining the rank of colonel, which was the highest military rank at the time. During this period, Colonel Houari Boumédiène held the position of minister of Defense.[3] Zbiri played a central role in the 1965 military coup, which overthrew president Ahmed Ben Bella and brought Houari Boumédiène to power. Following the coup, Zbiri became a member of the Council of the Revolution, the governing body established by Boumédiène's regime.[3]
As a strong proponent of socialism and a democrat, Zbiri became disillusioned with the direction of the military leadership. In December 1967, he opposed what he perceived as the marginalization of maquisards (fighters from the Algerian War of Independence) within the ANP, as well as the preferential treatment given to former veterans of the French army. His dissatisfaction with these developments ultimately led to his attempted coup against Boumédiène later that month.[1][8] The coup attempt was short-lived and ultimately failed. Boumédiène's forces suppressed the revolt, and Zbiri was forced to flee into exile.[9]
Later life and death
Following the failed coup, Zbiri spent several years in hiding and exile.[9] There is limited information on his activities during this period, though he reportedly spent time in neighboring countries.[9] Eventually, Zbiri was allowed to return to Algeria, although his influence on national politics significantly diminished after the failed coup.[9]
Zbiri's later years were marked by a degree of obscurity, as he remained out of the public eye and did not play any further major roles in Algerian politics or the military.[9]
Zbiri died in Algiers on 30 October 2024, at the age of 95.[6]
Legacy
Zbiri was regarded as one of the notable figures in Algerian history due to his attempt to challenge the political establishment and military during a period of consolidation for the newly independent state.[10] His role was often viewed in the broader context of the power struggles and factionalism that characterized Algeria's early post-independence years.[11]
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