List of Algerian massacres of the 1990s - Definition and Overview

During the bloody Algerian civil conflict of the 1990s, a variety of massacres occurred. The GIA (Armed Islamic Group) has avowed its responsibility for many of them, while for others no group has claimed responsibility. In addition to generating a widespread sense of fear, these massacres and the ensuing flight of population have resulted in serious depopulation of the worst-affected areas. The massacres peaked in 1997 (with a smaller peak in 1994), and were particularly concentrated in the areas between Algiers and Oran, with very few occurring in the east or in the Sahara.

This list currently covers only events in which over 50 civilians or prisoners were killed; far more numerous smaller massacres occurred. It is not necessarily exhaustive, and sources frequently disagree on the number of deaths.

Wilaya of Algiers

• Serkadji prison massacre of 20 February 1995, 109 deaths
• Beni-Messous massacre of 5-6 September 1997, 87/151 deaths
• Bentalha massacre of 22 September 1997, 202/300 deaths

Wilaya of Ain-Defla

• Ain-Defla massacre of March 1994, 80 deaths
• Ouled-El-Had massacre of 3 August 1997, 76 deaths

Wilaya of Batna

• Batna-Msila Road massacre of 17 August 1996, 63 deaths

Wilaya of Bouira

• Blida massacre of March 1994, 82 deaths
• Haouch Khmisti Bougara massacre of 21 April 1997, 93/113 deaths
• Si-Zerrouk massacre of 27 July 1997, 51 deaths
• Souhane massacre of 20-21 August 1997, 63 deaths
• Beni-Ali massacre of 26 August 1997, 64 deaths
• Rais massacre of 29 August 1997, 100-400 deaths
• Sidi-Hamed massacre of 11 January 1998, 120-400 deaths
• Bouirat massacre of 26 March 1998, 57 deaths

Wilaya of Chlef

• Tenes massacre of 4 May 1994, 173 deaths
• Tadjena massacre of 8 December 1998, 81 deaths

Wilaya of Medea

• Berrouaghia prison massacre of 7 November 1994, 513 deaths
• Thalit massacre of 3-4 April 1997, 52 deaths

Wilaya of M'Sila

• Dairat Labguar massacre of 16 June 1997, 50 deaths

Wilaya of Oran

• Sidi Daoud massacre of 12 October 1997, 43/50 deaths

Wilaya of Relizane

• Khrouba massacre of 30 December 1997, 176 deaths
• Sahnoun massacre of 30 December 1997, 113 deaths
• El-Abadel massacre of 30 December 1997, 73 deaths
• Ouled-Tayeb massacre of 30 December 1997, 50 deaths
• Remka massacre of 4 January 1998, 117 deaths
• Wilaya of Relizane massacres of 4 January 1998, 150-500

Wilaya of Saida

• Baloul massacre of 2 September 1998, 40-60 deaths

Wilaya of Tiaret

• Sidi-Lamri M'Ghila massacre of 23-24 December 1997, 53 deaths

Sources

• "An Anatomy of the Massacres", Ait-Larbi, Ait-Belkacem, Belaid, Nait-Redjam, and Soltani, in An Inquiry into the Algerian Massacres, ed. Bedjaoui, Aroua, and Ait-Larbi, Hoggar: Geneva 1999.