On November 12, 2025, in the sun-baked streets of Algiers, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Defence, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, sat down with General Saïd Chengriha, Chief of Staff of the Algerian People’s National Army.
Writing on X, Muchinguri wrote?
I met with General Saïd Chengriha, Chief of Staff of the Algerian People’s National Army, during my visit to Algiers on 12 November 2025. Our discussions focused on enhancing defence collaboration between Zimbabwe and Algeria, with particular attention to areas that advance our shared strategic priorities. The engagement further reinforced the longstanding partnership and mutual commitment that underpin relations between our two nations.
The Algerian People’s National Army (ANP), often just called the “Algiers army” in shorthand, is one of Africa’s most formidable and politically influential forces—a direct heir to the guerrilla fighters who battled French colonial rule during the brutal War of Independence from 1954 to 1962.
With about 130,000 active troops and another 150,000 in reserves, it’s structured into land forces, navy, air force, and elite units like the Republican Guard, all commanded from Algiers by Chief of Staff General Saïd Chengriha under President Tebboune’s oversight. They’ve got a hefty $21.6 billion budget (Africa’s biggest as of 2024), fueling a mix of homegrown gear like AK-47 clones and drones, plus high-end imports such as Russian Su-30 jets and S-300 missile systems.
