Tahar Zbiri

Tahar Zbiri (Arabic: الطاهر زبيري; April 4, 1929 – October 30, 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.

Tahar Zbiri
Native name	الطاهر زبيري
Born	(1929-04-04)April 4, 1929 Sedrata, French Algeria
Died	October 30, 2024(2024-10-30) (aged 95) Algiers, Algeria
Allegiance	Algeria
Branch	People's National Army
Service years	1954–1967
Rank	Colonel
Unit	5th Military Region Wilaya I
Commands	Chief of Staff
Conflict	Algerian War of Independence
Other work	Revolutionary Council member

Zbiri served in the Algerian People's National Army as a colonel, the only rank that existed during the regime of Houari Boumédiène, the second head of the state. Zbiri led an unsuccessful coup attempt against president Houari Boumédiène in 1967 after participating in the 1965 military takeover.

Early life

Zbiri was born on April 4, 1929 in Sedrata, Algeria.

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).

On November 1, 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. 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. 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. 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.

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. 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.

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. The coup attempt was short-lived and ultimately failed. Boumédiène's forces suppressed the revolt, and Zbiri was forced to flee into exile.

Later life and death

Following the failed coup, Zbiri spent several years in hiding and exile. There is limited information on his activities during this period, though he reportedly spent time in neighboring countries. Eventually, Zbiri was allowed to return to Algeria, although his influence on national politics significantly diminished after the failed coup.

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.

Zbiri died in Algiers on October 30, 2024, at the age of 95.

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. His role was often viewed in the broader context of the power struggles and factionalism that characterized Algeria's early post-independence years.

References

1. Viratelle, Gérard (25 Jul 1969). "L'ex-colonel Zbiri et cinq de ses coaccusés sont condamnés à mort". Le Monde.fr (in French). Retrieved 26 Sep 2024.
2. DC, Arab Center Washington (7 Nov 2022). "The Army and Political Power in the Arab Context: Theoretical Problems". Arab Center Washington DC. Retrieved 26 Sep 2024.
3. "ZBIRI Tahar [Algeria Dictionary]". Maitron (in French). 20 January 2014. Retrieved 26 Sep 2024.
4. Profile of Tahar Zbiri
5. Histoire : Tahar Zbiri, premier chef de l'armée algérienne accueilli par le Maroc (in French)
6. "Décès du moudjahid Tahar Zbiri" (in French). Radio Algerie. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
7. "Tahar Zbiri: les terribles vérités du dernier chef des Aurès". TSA (in French). 23 Sep 2018. Retrieved 26 Sep 2024.
8. "Algérie : Tahar Zbiri, factieux devenu sénateur". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). 17 May 2016. Retrieved 26 Sep 2024.
9. H., Ph. (18 Dec 1967). "LE COLONEL TAHAR ZBIRI". Le Monde.fr (in French). Retrieved 26 Sep 2024.
10. Meddi, Adlene (29 Jan 2019). "Saphia Arezki : « Écrire l'histoire de l'armée algérienne pour déconstruire ses mythes »". Middle East Eye édition française (in French). Retrieved 26 Sep 2024.
11. "Tahar Zbiri: Histoire d'un coup d'Etat manqué". La patrie news (in French). 14 Dec 2020. Retrieved 26 Sep 2024.

Further reading

• "Algeria: To the Barricades Again". TIME. 5 Jan 1968. Retrieved 26 Sep 2024.
• Mandel, Arnold (1966). "Algeria". The American Jewish Year Book. 67. American Jewish Committee: 441–444. ISSN 0065-8987. JSTOR 23605022. Retrieved 26 Sep 2024.
• "The Call from Algeria: Third Worldism, Revolution, and the Turn to Islam [Reprint 2019 ed.] 9780520917026". ebin.pub. 7 Jun 1962. Retrieved 26 Sep 2024.
• "Eastern Sun, 17 December 1967". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. 17 Dec 1967. Retrieved 26 Sep 2024.
• "ALGERIAN MILITARY DEVELOPMMNT THE PROFESSIONALIZATION 1~e OF A GUBERRILLA ARMY" (PDF). Retrieved 26 Sep 2024.