President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and Minister of National Defense, convened a meeting of the High Security Council on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. The session took place in Algeria to address national security matters. Participants at the council meeting discussed internal and regional developments. Official statements from the presidency indicated that the assembly reviewed the current security situation and the readiness of defense forces.
Composition of Security Council
Algerian law mandates that the High Security Council includes the President, the Prime Minister or Head of Government, the Chief of Army Staff, the Ministers of Justice, Interior, and Foreign Affairs, and the Director of the Presidential Cabinet. These officials hold responsibility for oversight of state security policy. The High Security Council in Algeria consists of the President, the Prime Minister or Head of Government, the Chief of Army Staff, the Ministers of Justice, Interior, and Foreign Affairs, and the Director of the Presidential Cabinet. This specific configuration of leadership ensures that the highest levels of the executive branch and defense establishment are represented during deliberations.
Council membership further encompasses the Commander of the Gendarmerie, the Director General of Security, and the Director of the Presidential Cabinet. The High Security Council includes the Commander of the Gendarmerie, the Director General of Security, the Director General of External Documentation and Security, the Director General of Internal Security, the Director General of Anti-Sabotage, and the Central Director of Army Security. The Director General of Internal Security, the Director General of Anti-Sabotage, and the Central Director of Army Security also serve as permanent members of this body.
The inclusion of these specific directors shows the full nature of the council’s oversight. By integrating the Director General of External Documentation and Security alongside the Director General of Internal Security, the council maintains a balance between monitoring external threats and managing domestic stability. The role of the Director General of Anti-Sabotage provides a specialized focus on preventing threats to the state’s infrastructure and operational integrity. The Central Director of Army Security works in tandem with the Chief of Army Staff to ensure that military readiness remains aligned with the broader security objectives defined by the President.
The High Security Council meets in an ordinary session whenever the need arises to decide on matters related to national security, whether internal or external. Such meetings provide a forum for high-level coordination among the state's security and military leadership. This structure facilitates the rapid dissemination of security assessments and the implementation of strategic decisions across all branches of the government. By bringing together the Ministers of Justice, Interior, and Foreign Affairs alongside military and intelligence leadership, the council ensures that security policy is cohesive and supported by the necessary administrative and diplomatic frameworks. The council remains the primary authority for addressing the complex security environment facing the nation.
