Ahmed Ben Bella - First President of Algeria, Timeline and Family
Ahmed Ben Bella's Personal Details
Ahmed Ben Bella was the first President of the Republic of Algeria
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | December 25, 1916 |
| Died on | April 11, 2012 |
| Nationality | Algerian |
| Famous | Leaders, Political Leaders, Revolutionaries, Presidents, First President of Algeria |
| Spouses | Zohra Sellami |
| Childrens | Mehdia Ben Bella, Noria Ben Bella |
| Birth Place | Maghnia, Algeria |
| Political Ideology | National Liberation Front |
| Religion | Islam |
| Gender | Male |
| Sun Sign | Capricorn |
| Born in | Maghnia, Algeria |
| Famous as | First President of Algeria |
| Died at Age | 95 |
Ahmed Ben Bella's photo
Who is Ahmed Ben Bella?
Ahmed Ben Bella is remembered as one of the greatest figures in Arab nationalism. As a young boy in school, he was deeply affected by the racial discrimination perpetuated over the indigenous people by the French authorities. He joined the French army and served with distinction during the Second World War. He returned to his homeland, and became a prominent part of Messali Hadj’s underground movement. He became the founder-leader of the Organisation Speciale (OS), which was the military wing of the movement. He was sentenced to eight years in prison for robbing a bank, but managed to escape. While in exile, he founded the National Liberation Front (FLN) which spearheaded the Algeria’s struggle for independence. He was re-arrested and imprisoned for six years. He was appointed vice premier of the provisional government while in prison, and was elected President when Algeria became independent. A socialist, after independence, he followed the policy of autogestion; the peasants were allowed to seize the land owned by the French settlers. He was also obsessed with foreign affairs; his foreign policies were pro-Arab and anti-imperialistic. When opposition to his autocratic rule increased, he imposed one-party rule. He was ousted in a bloodless coup, and for the remainder of his life, played a limited role in Algerian politics.
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Childhood & Early Life
Born to Moroccan Sufi Muslim parents, Ben Bella was one of seven siblings. He spent his childhood in Tlemcen, an Algerian city. His father eked out a living as a small-time trade and farmer.
He was affected by the racial discrimination perpetuated by the French settlers. He failed his brevet exam, and discontinued his schooling. He joined the French Army in 1936, and was stationed at Marseille.
Between 1939 and 1940, he played for the French football team Olympique de Marseille as a mid-field, and for IRB Maghnia, an Algerian football club, but rejected offers to be part of either team.
Career
During World War II, he re-enlisted in the French army. When France fell to the German forces, he was discharged. He joined a Moroccan infantry division, and by 1944, he had risen to the position of sergeant-major.
In 1945, the punitive action by the French authorities after the uprisings in Setif resulted in the deaths of thousands of Algerian Muslims. This incident made him determined to work for Algeria’s independence.
Returning to Marnia, Algeria, he was elected town councilor and joined the Movement for the Triumph of Democratic Liberties (MTLD,) led by Messali Hadj as a smokescreen for the outlawed Algerian People's Party (PPA).
When the French authorities seized his farm in Marnia, he fled to Algiers, and went underground. He refused to bow to the intimidation, and became one of Messali Hadj's 'Young Turks'.
When Marcel-Edmond Naegelen became Governor-General of Algeria in 1948, following a rigged election, he established the Organisation Speciale (OS, Special Organization) to begin an armed struggle against the French rule.
In 1950, he was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for robbing the main post office in Oran, but escaped after two years. He fled to Egypt, where he re-established the OS.
In 1954, he, and nine Algerian emigre leaders residing in Egypt met secretly in Switzerland. They decided to establish the National Liberation Front (FLN) and to organize an armed insurrection against the French.
Back in Egypt, he coordinated arms supplies arriving from Middle East countries The FLN absorbed almost all of Algeria's nationalist groups except Messeli Hadj's, Algerian National Movement (MNA).
In 1956, he escaped two attempts on his life. Later that year, while flying for peace negotiations in Rome with the French premier Guy Mollet, his airplane was controversially intercepted and taken to France.
Imprisoned from 1956 to 1962, he was appointed vice-chairman of the Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic (GPRA). Distanced from FLN’s activities, he escaped being implicated in MNA’s atrocities during the Algerian War.
In 1962, the Evian Accords was signed by the French government and the FLN’s GPRA. He was elected the first president of the Democratic People's Republic of Algeria under a new constitution, the following year.
As Algeria’s President in 1963, he aligned with anti-Zionist Arab states, and desired good relations with France. Committed to the Organization of African Unity, he supported nationalist movements in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Angola.
His leadership became autocratic and the FLN became unpopular. Other political parties such as the Algerian Communist Party and the Party of Socialist Revolution were banned.
In 1965, he was removed in a bloodless military coup led by Houari Boumedienne, and was put under house arrest. He remained in house arrest until Boumedienne’s death, fourteen years later.
He launched the Movement for Democracy in Algeria (MDA), in Switzerland, in 1984. Six years later, he returned to take part in the country's first multiparty election.
His party was eventually banned in 1997, but he continued to be active in Algerian politics. He tried to convince the Islamic Salvation Front to give up violence.
He was elected president of the International Campaign Against Aggression on Iraq in Cairo and chaired the African Union Panel of the Wise, which advises on prevention and resolution of conflicts.
Major Works
As President in 1963, he allocated 1/4th of the budget to education. As for agricultural reforms, he adopted autogestion, or the nationalization (without direct state control) of large farms formerly owned by French settlers.
He signed a peace agreement in 1964 that successfully resolved the border dispute between Algeria and Morocco. Morocco had claimed the Tindouf and Bechare regions which were annexed to Algeria by the French.
Awards & Achievements
As a soldier in the French army, in 1940, Ben Bella was awarded the Croix de guerre (War Cross). Four years later, he received the M�daille Militaire (Military Medal) from President de Gaulle.
Ahmed Ben Bella, the first president of Algeria, was honored with the title ‘Hero of the Soviet Union’ on 30 April 1964. The title was the highest distinction in the erstwhile Soviet Union.
Personal Life & Legacy
Ahmed Ben Bella married Zohra Sellami, a journalist, in 1971; the two had met when she had visited his home while he was under house arrest. They adopted two daughters, Mehdia and Nouria.
He died on 11 April 2012, at the age of 95. On his death, he was accorded a state funeral at El Alia Cemetery. The funeral was attended by the Prime Ministers of Mauritania and Morocco and the Presidents of Sahrawi Republic and Tunisia.
Trivia
According to this famous Algerian leader, a pacifist at heart, “Peace does not include a vendetta; there will be neither winners nor losers”.
This Algerian nationalist appears as himself in the British TV documentary, ‘The Century of Warfare’, narrated by actor, Robert Powell.
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Ahmed Ben Bella's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 0 | 1964 - Hero of the Soviet Union | |
Ahmed Ben Bella biography timelines
- // 25th Dec 1916Born to Moroccan Sufi Muslim parents, Ben Bella was one of seven siblings. He spent his childhood in Tlemcen, an Algerian city. His father eked out a living as a small-time trade and farmer.
- // 1936He was affected by the racial discrimination perpetuated by the French settlers. He failed his brevet exam, and discontinued his schooling. He joined the French Army in 1936, and was stationed at Marseille.
- // 1944During World War II, he re-enlisted in the French army. When France fell to the German forces, he was discharged. He joined a Moroccan infantry division, and by 1944, he had risen to the position of sergeant-major.
- // 1945In 1945, the punitive action by the French authorities after the uprisings in Setif resulted in the deaths of thousands of Algerian Muslims. This incident made him determined to work for Algeria’s independence.
- // 1948When Marcel-Edmond Naegelen became Governor-General of Algeria in 1948, following a rigged election, he established the Organisation Speciale (OS, Special Organization) to begin an armed struggle against the French rule.
- // 1950In 1950, he was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for robbing the main post office in Oran, but escaped after two years. He fled to Egypt, where he re-established the OS.
- // 1954In 1954, he, and nine Algerian emigre leaders residing in Egypt met secretly in Switzerland. They decided to establish the National Liberation Front (FLN) and to organize an armed insurrection against the French.
- // 1956In 1956, he escaped two attempts on his life. Later that year, while flying for peace negotiations in Rome with the French premier Guy Mollet, his airplane was controversially intercepted and taken to France.
- // 1956 To 1962Imprisoned from 1956 to 1962, he was appointed vice-chairman of the Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic (GPRA). Distanced from FLN’s activities, he escaped being implicated in MNA’s atrocities during the Algerian War.
- // 1962In 1962, the Evian Accords was signed by the French government and the FLN’s GPRA. He was elected the first president of the Democratic People's Republic of Algeria under a new constitution, the following year.
- // 1963As Algeria’s President in 1963, he aligned with anti-Zionist Arab states, and desired good relations with France. Committed to the Organization of African Unity, he supported nationalist movements in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Angola.
- // 1963As President in 1963, he allocated 1/4th of the budget to education. As for agricultural reforms, he adopted autogestion, or the nationalization (without direct state control) of large farms formerly owned by French settlers.
- // 1964He signed a peace agreement in 1964 that successfully resolved the border dispute between Algeria and Morocco. Morocco had claimed the Tindouf and Bechare regions which were annexed to Algeria by the French.
- // 1965In 1965, he was removed in a bloodless military coup led by Houari Boumedienne, and was put under house arrest. He remained in house arrest until Boumedienne’s death, fourteen years later.
- // 1971Ahmed Ben Bella married Zohra Sellami, a journalist, in 1971; the two had met when she had visited his home while he was under house arrest. They adopted two daughters, Mehdia and Nouria.
- // 1984He launched the Movement for Democracy in Algeria (MDA), in Switzerland, in 1984. Six years later, he returned to take part in the country's first multiparty election.
- // 1997His party was eventually banned in 1997, but he continued to be active in Algerian politics. He tried to convince the Islamic Salvation Front to give up violence.
- // 11th Apr 2012He died on 11 April 2012, at the age of 95. On his death, he was accorded a state funeral at El Alia Cemetery. The funeral was attended by the Prime Ministers of Mauritania and Morocco and the Presidents of Sahrawi Republic and Tunisia.
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Ahmed Ben Bella's FAQ
What is Ahmed Ben Bella birthday?
Ahmed Ben Bella was born at 1916-12-25
When was Ahmed Ben Bella died?
Ahmed Ben Bella was died at 2012-04-11
Where was Ahmed Ben Bella died?
Ahmed Ben Bella was died in Algiers, Algeria
Which age was Ahmed Ben Bella died?
Ahmed Ben Bella was died at age 95
Where is Ahmed Ben Bella's birth place?
Ahmed Ben Bella was born in Maghnia, Algeria
What is Ahmed Ben Bella nationalities?
Ahmed Ben Bella's nationalities is Algerian
Who is Ahmed Ben Bella spouses?
Ahmed Ben Bella's spouses is Zohra Sellami
Who is Ahmed Ben Bella childrens?
Ahmed Ben Bella's childrens is Mehdia Ben Bella, Noria Ben Bella
What is Ahmed Ben Bella's political ideology?
Ahmed Ben Bella's political ideology is National Liberation Front
What is Ahmed Ben Bella's religion?
Ahmed Ben Bella's religion is Islam
What is Ahmed Ben Bella's sun sign?
Ahmed Ben Bella is Capricorn
How famous is Ahmed Ben Bella?
Ahmed Ben Bella is famouse as First President of Algeria