Saïd Chengriha (; born 1 August 1945) is a senior official in the

Algerian People's National Army The People's National Army (PNA) () is the military of the Algerian republic. It is the direct successor of the National Liberation Army (ALN), the armed wing of the nationalist National Liberation Front, which fought French colonial rule d ...

. He was the commander of the ground forces in September 2018 and was named acting

chief of staff The title chief of staff (or head of staff) identifies the leader of a complex organization such as the armed forces, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a principal staff officer (PSO), who is the coordinator of the supportin ...

after the death of

Ahmed Gaid Salah Ahmed Gaid Salah (; 13 January 1940 – 23 December 2019) was an Algerian military officer and chief of staff of the Algerian People's National Army from 2004 to 2019. In 2004, he was appointed by then-President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to the posit ...

on 23 December 2019 until 3 July 2020 when he was officially appointed by president

Abdelmadjid Tebboune Abdelmadjid Tebboune (; born 17 November 1945) is an Algerian politician currently serving as the president of Algeria since December 2019 and as minister of defence. Tebboune took over the power from former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika and f ...

. In November 2024, General Chengriha joined the Tebboune government as delegate for national defense.

Military service

After graduating from

Saint-Cyr Military Academy Saint-Cyr refers to the popular child-saint Cyricus, whose following was strong in France because relics were brought back from Antioch by the 4th-century Bishop Saint Amator of Auxerre. Saint-Cyr may refer to: Places France * École spécia ...

, Chengriha took part in the

Six-Day War The Six-Day War, also known as the June War, 1967 Arab–Israeli War or Third Arab–Israeli War, was fought between Israel and a coalition of Arab world, Arab states, primarily United Arab Republic, Egypt, Syria, and Jordan from 5 to 10June ...

in 1967 and the

Yom Kippur War The Yom Kippur War, also known as the Ramadan War, the October War, the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, or the Fourth Arab–Israeli War, was fought from 6 to 25 October 1973 between Israel and a coalition of Arab world, Arab states led by Egypt and S ...

in 1973. He then attended the Voroshilov Academy. He has received a number of awards, including the PNA 1st, 2nd and 3rd chevron medals, Medal of the PNA participation in the middle-east wars 1967 and 1973, Medal of Military Merit,

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...

and the Medal of Bravery of the PNA. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in 1998, to major general in 2003, to

army corps general An army corps general or corps general is a rank held by a general officer who commands an army corps. The rank originates from the French Revolutionary System, and is used by a number of countries. Normally, the rank is above the divisional gene ...

in 2020 and then to

army general Army general or General of the army is the highest ranked general officer in many countries that use the French Revolutionary System. Army general is normally the highest rank used in peacetime. In countries that adopt the general officer fou ...

in 2022 by president Tebboune, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the

Algerian independence An independence referendum was held in French Algeria on 1 July 1962. It followed French approval of the Évian Accords in an April referendum. Voters were asked whether Algeria should become an independent state, co-operating with France; 99.7 ...

Personal life

Chengriha is married and has six children.

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chengriha, Saïd 1945 births People from Biskra Province Algerian generals Chaoui people Living people 21st-century Algerian people Chiefs of defence 21st-century military personnel