Guenaizia was born on November 20, 1936, in Souk Ahras, then French Algeria.

[1] He deserted from the French army, joining the FLN in April 1958 at the age of 22.

[2] After Algerian independence, and following training in the US and USSR, Guenaizia assumed the functions of Chief of Staff of military regions.

[2] In 1993, after three years as Chief of Staff, he retired and began a diplomatic career as ambassador of Algeria to Switzerland.

He also holds the commemorative medal and the military star for participating in the Yom Kippur War by the President of Egypt.