Abdelghani Hamel
Abdelghani Hamel | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 3, 1955 Sabra, Algeria |
| Occupation(s) | Political and military leader |
| Years active | 1973–2018 |
| Known for | Director-General of National Security (2010–2018) |
Abdelghani Hamel (Arabic: عبدالغني هامل) is a notable Algerian political and military leader who held the position of Director-General of National Security from 2010 until 2018.
Biography
Hamel was born on July 3, 1955, in Sabra, Algeria. He earned a computer science degree from the National School of Computer Science and completed a master's program focused on strategic and international studies.
His professional journey spanned 37 years within the Algerian People's National Army, specifically in the Gendarmerie Nationale. Throughout his service, he occupied several key roles including chief of staff for the 6th Regional Command based in Tamanrasset, head of public security in Algiers, regional commander in Oran, and commander of the border guard unit between 2004 and 2005.
In 2008, then-President Abdelaziz Bouteflika elevated Hamel to the rank of major general and appointed him as commander of the Republican Guard, a role he maintained until 2010.
On July 28, 2010, Hamel succeeded Colonel Ali Tounsi as the leader of Algeria’s police force, the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN). He remained in this capacity until his removal in 2018, after which Colonel Mustapha El-Habiri took over.
Illicit activities
On April 27, 2019, Algerian judicial authorities summoned Hamel and his son on allegations including illegal activities, influence peddling, land misappropriation, and abuse of office. They appeared before a court in Sidi M'Hamed on July 4, 2019, were interrogated by a prosecutor, and subsequently detained temporarily at El Harrach prison.
On April 1, 2020, Hamel received a prison sentence of 15 years accompanied by a substantial fine due to multiple corruption charges linked to his period in office; this sentence was later reduced to 12 years upon appeal. His children—Amiar, Chafik, Mourad, and Chahinaz—were sentenced to ten, eight, seven, and three years respectively; these terms were also decreased to eight, six, five, and one year. His wife, Annani Salima, was handed a two-year sentence. Additionally, all family assets were seized.
In June 2020, Hamel was sentenced to twelve years for offenses involving "misappropriation of agricultural land and influence peddling," but this verdict was overturned in April 2022. He also faced a four-year sentence for "abuse of office and laundering public funds to support terrorist groups through real estate transactions," from which he was acquitted in November 2021.
In connection with a legal case involving Bouteflika's daughter Nachinachi Zoulikha in October 2020, Hamel was given a ten-year prison term. His properties were confiscated during 2021.