Colonel Aymen Poised to Lead Algeria’s Antar in Ben Aknoun
Colonel Aymen from the DGSI’s the Counter-Espionage and Subversion Directorate (DCECS), originally from Mila province, has been a key influencer in sensitive appointments within political parties and legislative bodies. His rise began under former DGSI director Major General Kahal Madjoub and was further consolidated during the tenure of Major General Abdelkader Haddad. Our sources have stated that no significant political or parliamentary change in recent years has occurred without his involvement.
Among Colonel Aymen’s most notable actions was orchestrating the removal of Mustapha Yahi, the interim secretary-general of the National Democratic Rally (RND), which was followed by a restructuring of the Council of the Nation with the carefully orchestrated appointment of half its new members.
On Thursday, May 29, 2025, Mustapha Yahi announced his resignation from the leadership of the RND, opening the way for a new phase within one of Algeria’s major political parties. This decision was made during an official meeting held at the party’s headquarters in Algiers, where National Office member Mondher Boudjen was appointed as chairman of the national committee to prepare for the seventh party congress and given authority to manage the party’s affairs until the upcoming congress. Mustapha Yahia had been serving as acting secretary-general since replacing Tayeb Zitouni, who was appointed Minister of Trade in a previous cabinet reshuffle.
Mustapha Yahi pushed out from the RND after an orchestrated ejection by Colonel Aymen from the DGSI’s the Counter-Espionage and Subversion Directorate (DCECS).
Beyond official roles, sources revealed that Colonel Aymen holds substantial assets in Spain, specifically in Valencia, and in Qatar. His wife holds Spanish citizenship, while his son Jawad serves as the representative of Air Algérie in Moscow. These connections have raised questions about how personal financial networks may intersect with sensitive state functions.
In a previous article titled “6 Critical Developments In The Algerian Intelligence And Judicial Apparatus”, we announced that Colonel Slim Belazzoug had initially been designated to take over as interim commander of the Antar Center, replacing Colonel Touazi Amine (aka Tarek), who is under investigation after Abdelkader Haddad’s dismissal and replacement. However, after Colonel Slim’s appointment was formally enacted and he assumed the role, the decision was abruptly reversed just four days later. This sudden reversal was because of Colonel Slim’s appointment information being published, which was viewed as a violation of the strict secrecy typically surrounding leadership changes within the security apparatus. Consequently, the decision to appoint Colonel Slim was changed.
In this context of uncertainty and leadership turmoil, Colonel Aymen has now emerged as the leading candidate to succeed as commander of the Antar Center, especially following the reversal of Colonel Slim’s appointment. Colonel Aymen’s established influence within the DGSI, alongside his political and financial connections, has positioned him as the frontrunner for the post amid these developments. The upcoming days and weeks will reveal more.
Abderrahmane Fares ✍️
