Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Tunisia’s military chief has been forced to resign amid an
increased presence of Al Qaida.

Tunisian Chief of Staff Gen. Rachid Amar has announced his retirement
amid his failure to stop the infiltration of Al Qaida Organization in the
Islamic Maghreb into the North African state.

In a televised address on June 24, Amar said he had wanted to leave the military as early as 2006.

“I have asked the president, and he has agreed to my departure,” Amar said.

Amar has been regarded as a leading force in the revolt against Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Bin Ali in 2011. The 66-year-old general has elicited pledges of military aid from both the United States and the
European Union.

But in 2013, the military came under increasing criticism for its failure to stop AQIM infiltration. The opposition said AQIM has linked with
Salafist elements to form strongholds in eastern and northern Tunisia.

No replacement for Amar has been announced. Amar has been leading a
modernization of all services in the military with equipment procured from
Britain, France, Italy and the United States.

  Al Qaida Organization in the Islamic Maghreb, Gen. Rachid Amar, Tunisian military chief resigns over failure to stop Al Qaida infiltration, Zine El Abidine Bin Ali