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Algeria: Recent History
French colonization of Algeria
Since earliest times this part of northern Africa had been inhabited by Berber people. For over 500 years, the coast came under Roman rule. The Arabs penetrated into North Africa in the seventh century and gradually the Berbers were converted to Islam.
In 1830, the French invaded Algeria. The Algerian population was condemned to economic, social and political inferiority and an armed resistance to the occupation followed, lasting for decades. Unlike Morocco and Tunisia, which the French also occupied, Algeria was considered an integral part of France. Thus, education, for example, when available to Algerians, was in French.
The years before World War II saw a revival of the Nationalist movement and the formation of the Party of the Algerian People (PPA). In 1942, Algerian nationalists called for the establishment of an Algerian constituent assembly, and a year later demanded reforms including the introduction of Arabic as an official language, and the eventual creation of an Algerian state. All of the demands were rejected by the French.
In March 1944, after a visit to Algiers by General Charles de Gaulle, some compromises were made and membership of the French electoral college was opened to a small minority of Muslims. However, French settlers continued to reject any real concessions to Algerian aspirations. During a peaceful demonstration on May 8th, 1945 Algerians called for recognition of their right to independence after having contributed to the defeat of Nazi Germany. 45,000 Algerians were killed in a brutal repression.
By 1954, Algerian opposition had turned into full-scale revolt led by the Front de Libération Nationale (FLN). Severe French repression of the Muslim population, including the use of torture and internment, and the hijacking and arrest of the FLN leader, Ahmed Ben Bella in 1957, was condemned both at home and abroad. By 1959, General de Gaulle was forced to recognize the strength of the Algerian nationalism and the first secret talks between the FLN and the French took place in 1960.
In November, de Gaulle announced that a referendum on the future of Algeria would be held. The final steps toward Algerian independence were taken in a referendum in July 1962 with 91% of the population voting in its favor. Independence was declared on July 3rd, 1962. The long and bloody war, which had cost more than 130,000 Algerian lives, and the uprooting of much of the rural population, had finally ended.
Next: 1988 to 1999....
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