Mohamed Bouzit was appointed on Thursday as chief of the external security directorate, succeeding Kamel-Eddine Remili.
New army chief, Major-General Said Chengriha, oversaw the appointment ceremony.
Bouzit’s appointment came at the order of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in his role as defense minister and commander of the armed forces, said Chengriha.
Remili had stepped down from his post three days after the dismissal and imprisonment of internal security and head of intelligence chief Wasini Bouazza.
No explanation was given for Remili’s resignation.
Tebboune and Chengriha fired Bouazza a week ago when the presidency appointed General Abdelghani Rachedi as a deputy, granting him “wide powers”.
Bouazza, is on military trial for committing “serious violations" during his eight-month tenure. Dozens of Algerian activists, politicians, and journalists were imprisoned during his term in office.
His dismissal is a sign that the authorities are determined to terminate the legacy of late army chief of staff Lieutenant-General Ahmed Gaid Saleh, who was the de facto leader of the country after president Abdelaziz Bouteflika's resignation in April 2019, political sources told Asharq Al-Awsat on Wednesday.
Saleh passed away suddenly late last year.
Saleh was considered the "godfather" of Bouazza and appointed him as head of Internal Security after restructuring the intelligence service.
