Recent violence in southern Algeria, particularly in the towns of Tinzaouatene, Timiaouine, Bordj Badji Mokhtar, and Boughessa, has highlighted the brutality and ineffectiveness of the Algerian army in its fight against separatist groups. Military operations in the region, under the command of General Saïd Chengriha, have resulted in significant casualties on both sides and, notably, in particularly brutal repressive actions against local populations, including innocent civilians.
Despite substantial resources deployed by the fourth military region to suppress the rebels, the Algerian army has suffered considerable losses:
- Tinzaouatene: 15 soldiers were killed in an ambush.
- Timiaouine: 8 soldiers were killed and 12 others were injured in intense fighting.
- Bordj Badji Mokhtar: 10 soldiers died following a rebel attack.
- Boughessa: 7 soldiers were killed, with significant material losses.
In total, the Algerian army has lost 40 soldiers and reported 12 serious injuries. Retaliatory operations by the Algerian army have also inflicted heavy losses on rebel groups, but at the cost of brutal actions against civilian populations. According to local witnesses and sources close to the military, the army’s actions have been marked by extreme violence:
- Tinzaouatene: At least 30 rebels were killed in military raids. However, these operations were accompanied by violence against local villages, where 25 civilians, including 10 women and 7 children, were reportedly massacred by military forces.
- Timiaouine: 20 rebels were killed, but entire villages were devastated by Algerian troops, resulting in the deaths of 18 civilians.
- Bordj Badji Mokhtar: The armed forces killed 15 rebels but were also accused of raping and murdering civilians, resulting in an additional 15 victims, mostly women and children.
- Boughessa: 15 rebels were killed in clashes, but the army is reported to have summarily executed 10 civilians after accusing the villages of harboring rebel fighters.
Overall, in addition to the 65 rebels killed, these military operations have resulted in the deaths of approximately 68 civilians, including many women and children, in what is widely perceived as deliberate acts of reprisal. NGOs alerted by the massacres are attempting to contact residents in southern Algeria to denounce the brutal repression of ethnic minorities and the excessive militarization of the country, labeling it as a « silent genocide. »
The southern region of Algeria, located at the border with Mali and Niger, is strategically important for Algeria due to its geographic position and natural resources. However, local communities, including Tuaregs and others, have long felt marginalized and are demanding autonomy. The Algerian government has deployed military forces to crush separatist movements, triggering a wave of violence targeting not only fighters but also civilians.