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Algerian Army Asserts it will Remain Neutral in Elections

The Algerian Republican army in front of the Presidential Palace (Reuters)
The Algerian Republican army in front of the Presidential Palace (Reuters)
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Algerian Army Asserts it will Remain Neutral in Elections

The Algerian Republican army in front of the Presidential Palace (Reuters)
The Algerian Republican army in front of the Presidential Palace (Reuters)

Algerian Ministry of National Defense confirmed that the national army is a "republican army" and will remain neutral during the upcoming legislative elections.

“We say once again that the People's National Army is a republican army and will remain so in an irreversible manner [...] an army that assumes its constitutional duties as required by the laws of the republic,” read an editorial in the June edition of the Army Magazine.

It asserted that the military establishment once again reminded everyone that the People's National Army assumes its constitutional duties, as required by the laws of the Republic, in a spirit of commitment and full readiness to defend Algeria's sovereignty and unity.

The magazine described the elections scheduled for May 12 as a very important date for the country's future.

It asserted that the army would remain neutral during the polls unless it was required to provide the appropriate conditions that ensure the elections' security and allow the people to freely choose their representatives.

The statement also indicated that the members of the Algerian army “will participate with their fellow citizens in this national duty, by casting their votes freely and transparently.”

“The army refuses to be dragged into the game played by those who have lost their way,” it added.

The statement highlighted that the people have high hopes for change and establishing a new Algeria, stressing that they will always be supported by the military institution that is faithful to its obligations and commitments.

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Syria’s Reconciliation Committee Prioritizes Stability after Anger Over Prisoner Releases

Member of the High Committee for National Reconciliation Hassan Soufan and the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Facebook)
Member of the High Committee for National Reconciliation Hassan Soufan and the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Facebook)
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Syria’s Reconciliation Committee Prioritizes Stability after Anger Over Prisoner Releases

Member of the High Committee for National Reconciliation Hassan Soufan and the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Facebook)
Member of the High Committee for National Reconciliation Hassan Soufan and the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Facebook)

Syria’s High Committee for National Reconciliation has defended recent controversial prisoner releases, saying the decision aims to preserve national stability amid ongoing tensions.

Committee member Hassan Soufan confirmed that several officers recently freed had voluntarily surrendered in 2021 at the Iraqi border and in the Al-Sukhna region, under a formal request for safe conduct.

Speaking at a press conference in Damascus on Tuesday, Soufan addressed public backlash following the releases and acknowledged the deep pain felt by victims’ families.

“We fully understand the anger and grief of the families of martyrs,” he said. “But the current phase requires decisions that can help secure relative stability for the coming period.”

The controversy erupted after the Ministry of Interior announced on Sunday the release of dozens of detainees in Latakia, many of whom were arrested during the “Deterrence of Aggression” operation, which contributed to the fall of the Assad regime.

Among those involved in the mediation effort was Fadi Saqr, a former commander in the regime’s National Defense Forces, who has been accused of war crimes, including involvement in the Tadamon massacre in southern Damascus.

Soufan explained that the released officers had undergone investigation and were found not to have participated in war crimes. “Keeping them imprisoned no longer serves a national interest,” he said. “It has no legal justification.”

He stressed that Syria is in a delicate phase of national reconciliation, in which balancing justice and peace is critical.

“There are two parallel tracks - transitional justice and civil peace - and today, the priority is civil peace, as it lays the groundwork for all other strategic efforts,” he said.

Soufan added that the committee has requested expanded powers from the Syrian president, including the authority to release detainees not proven guilty and to coordinate directly with state institutions.

He insisted that the aim is not to bypass justice, but to prevent further bloodshed. “Vengeance and retribution are not paths to justice,” he said. “They allow real criminals to slip away while deepening divisions.”

While affirming that transitional justice remains essential, Soufan noted that it should focus on top perpetrators of atrocities, not individuals who merely served under the regime. “Justice means accountability for those who planned and carried out major crimes, not blanket punishment.”