On January 17, the Democratic Party of Japan established a countermeasures headquarters in response to a hostage crisis involving foreign nationals including Japanese citizens by al Qaeda-linked armed insurgents in Algeria. The members of the headquarters are as follows:

Chair: Banri Kaieda (President, Next Prime Minister)
Acting Chair: Takeaki Matsumoto (Chair of Policy Research Committee, Next Minister for Cabinet Office)
Vice Chairs: Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi (Next Minister of Foreign Affairs), Hajime Hirota (Next Minister of Defence), Shu Watanabe (Next Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission)
Secretary General: Takeshi Shina (Director-General of Executive Office)
Director General: Motohiro Oono (Member of the House of Councillors)

*The headquarters will nominate new members according to the situation.