Rabat – On Friday, December 29, the world learned of the passing of General Khaled Nezzar, an 86-year old Algerian military figure whose complex legacy traverses controversial military strategies, human rights abuses, and a lifetime of legal battles.
Born in the village of Seryana in Batna province, General Nezzar had a storied military career that saw him rise to prominence as the Deputy Chief of the Algerian Army’s Staff in 1987 and later as the Minister of Defense from 1990 to 1993.
Known for his instrumental role in shaping Algeria’s military approach, Nezzar’s strategies, particularly concerning Morocco, left an indelible mark on regional security. However, his legacy is marred by the notorious “Black Decade,” a period that witnessed the loss of countless Algerian lives.
Last August, the Swiss Public Prosecutor’s Office charged him with crimes against humanity during the Algerian Civil War, specifically related to of torture between 1991 and 1993.
Nezzar, who was detained in October 2011 in Geneva, vehemently denied these charges, including accusations of espionage for France, originally made by the late Algerian President Chadli Ben Jedid.
Further allegations connected him to the use of live ammunition during the 1988 protests, a claim he defended by asserting a lack of non-lethal alternatives for controlling the unrest.
Adding a layer of complexity to his narrative, Nezzar and his son Lotfi found themselves sentenced to 20 years by the Military Court in Blida for undermining the authority of the army and plotting against the state during the 2019 Algeria Hirak movement.
As legal proceedings unfolded, General Nezzar presented an extensive list of 105 witnesses in his defense, including notable figures such as retired colonel Belkacem Boukhari, former public prosecutor of the Blida military court Ali Haroun, and former-minister Leïla Aslaoui.
The Swiss Federal Prosecutor’s Office’s final hearing in February 2022 concluded that “numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity were committed” under Nezzar’s leadership during the Algerian Civil War.
On August 28, 2023, Swiss justice announced his indictment and referral to the Federal Criminal Court, underscoring the enduring legal saga that defined the latter years of his life.
