CHRONOLOGY

Algeria, the long road to independence

On July 5, 1962, in the streets of Algiers, the Algerians let their joy burst forth.

Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images - Keystone-France

Text by: Latifa Mouaoued Follow |

Claire Arsenault Follow |

Patricia Blettery Follow

9 mins

On July 5, 1962, in Algiers, the independence of the country was announced.

The ceasefire had been proclaimed a few months earlier, the day after the signing of the Evian Accords in March 1962, thus putting an end to eight years of a war which, for a long time, did not mean its end. name between France and Algeria.

A look back at the chronology of the events of this conflict which left deep and painful scars.

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■ May 8, 1945: the massacres of Sétif, Guelma and Kherrata

As France and its allies celebrate the end of the Second World War, a rally is organized in Algeria by the Algerian nationalist parties in Sétif, a town in Constantinois, 300 km east of Algiers.

They want to put forward their demands in this French department where the inequalities between Europeans from Algeria and Algerians were institutionalized (in particular in terms of taxes, criminal justice, military service, access to the civil service, remuneration in civil service or access to education).

A 22-year-old young man wearing an Algerian flag is murdered by a policeman.

Demonstrators are arrested, tortured and summarily executed.

The toll is very heavy: some historians speak of 45,000 dead.

The protest movement spreads in the surrounding villages,

especially in Guelma and Kherrata.

This event is considered the founder of the 1954 uprising.

► 

■ November 1, 1954: All Saints' Day attacks

The newly created National Liberation Front (FLN) decides to go to the armed struggle to obtain independence.

He organized a series of attacks against the French in Algeria, the "Toussaint rouge".

■

François Mitterrand, Minister of the Interior declares: “ 

A terrible repressive machine is set up on the Algerian territory, but also in mainland France where the immigrant community is particularly watched.

In 1954, the Algerian National Movement (MNA), very established among Algerian immigrants, led by Messali Hadj split with the FLN.

Quickly, the rivalries between the two political parties, FLN and MNA, tore the Algerian community apart. 

■ April 1, 1955:

A few months after the thirty attacks of the "Red All Saints' Day", the unrest in the Aurès makes it estimated that the legislation is "

".

The National Assembly proclaims a state of emergency for six months in Algeria and legalizes searches, bans on residence and house arrest against “

”.

■ September 11, 1955: the “Algerian question” at the UN

The Algerian question is on the agenda of the tenth session of the UN General Assembly.

An office of the FLN delegation will be opened in New York in April 1956, the FLN having decided to carry out a communication clearly oriented towards foreign countries "

.

■ January 6, 1956: “tomato day”

During a trip to Algiers, the new President of the Council, Guy Mollet, was confronted with the anger of the French settled in Algeria, the "black feet", because of the appointment of General Catroux, considered by Europeans as favorable to the negotiations with the separatist Algerians.

Guy Mollet decides to send recalled and conscripted contingents to the departments of Algeria for a workforce of 180,000 to 200,000 soldiers.

In total, more than 1.5 million young conscripts took part in the Algerian conflict.

On their return, many are those who locked themselves in a revealing silence of the trauma experienced. 

►

■ January 7, 1957 - October 31, 1957: start of the Battle of Algiers

General Massu is responsible for maintaining order in Algiers.

He commanded the 10th Parachute Division and entered the city with 8,000 men.

The FLN responded with attacks and a general strike which began on January 28.

In response, the army divided the city into sectors and surrounded the "Arab" districts.

It is the Battle of Algiers.

The French army generalizes the use of torture. 

■ February 8, 1958: the Sakiet-Sidi-Youssef massacre

French aircraft bomb the Tunisian border village of Sakiet Sidi Youssef on the Algerian border.

Sakiet Sidi Youssef is home to a cantonment of Algerian rebels from the National Liberation Army (ALN).

There are more than 70 dead and a hundred wounded.

This bombardment is considered an important element of the fall of the Fourth Republic which led to the return to power of General de Gaulle.

■ February 12, 1958: Henri Alleg publishes

Director of the daily newspaper

banned in 1955, Henri Alleg was arrested on June 12, 1957. In

, he describes the four weeks spent in the hands of French army paratroopers.

is an autobiographical account in which he describes the abuse he suffered. 

■ May 13, 1958-June 1, 1958: the arrival of General de Gaulle

In Algiers, a demonstration for French Algeria is held on May 13, 1958. General Salan, commander-in-chief of the forces in Algeria, fraternizes with the demonstrators, forms a public safety committee chaired by General Massu and declares to exercise power .

These events lead to the resignation of Pierre Pfilmin, Chairman of the Board.

The President of the Republic René Coty appeals to General de Gaulle.

He obtained his investiture on June 1 by 329 votes for and 224 against.

He can then set up his cabinet after consultation with the historical leaders of the political parties.

On June 4, invested with full powers, de Gaulle went to Algiers.

He delivers an ambiguous speech, in which everyone can recognize themselves and project their own hopes.

His " 

 " becomes historic.

■ September 19, 1958: a government for Algeria

The first provisional government of the Algerian Republic (GPRA) was born, headed by Ferhat Abbas, a figure of the nationalist movement.

On October 23, 1958, General de Gaulle proposed “the peace of the brave”.

The GPRA refuses it.

■September 16, 1959: the right to self-determination of Algerians

General de Gaulle proclaims the right to self-determination of Algerians by proposing secession, francization or association.

The GPRA refuses and demands independence.

He designates his negotiators: Ahmed Ben Bella, one of the founders of the FLN, and his companions detained in France.

De Gaulle refuses.

■ January 24, 1960: the week of the barricades

The right granted to the Algerian population to decide on its political status has the effect of a bombshell among the supporters of French Algeria, who consider this policy as an abandonment on the part of the metropolis.

When the President of the Republic dismisses General Jacques Massu, who commands the army corps of Algiers, they rebel against the power in place.

At their head Joseph Ortiz, Jean-Jacques Susini and MP Pierre Lagaillarde.

The toll of these insurrectionary days is estimated at 20 dead and 150 injured.

This was called “the week of the barricades”.

Soldiers from the Territorial Guards (UT) units monitor French nationalists who are rising up against President de Gaulle's policy of self-determination in Algeria, January 28, 1960 in Algiers.

© Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty

■ January 8, 1961: referendum on the right to self-determination

Algerians and Europeans in Algeria vote for Algeria's self-determination referendum near Tiaret southwest of Algiers, January 8, 1961, during the Algerian War.

© Jacques Landry / AFP

■ February 1, 1961: creation of the OAS

The Secret Army Organization (OAS) brings together military and civilian activists opposed to the independence of Algeria.

It killed many people in explosions, individual or collective attacks both in Algeria and in France. 

■ April 22, 1961: the generals' putsch

The putschist French generals Edmond Jouhaud, Raoul Salan, and Maurice Challe (from L to R) leave the General delegation, April 23, 1961 in Algiers, after their seizure of power (with General Zeller) to oppose Algerian policy of General de Gaulle.

© AFP

■ October 17, 1961

Violent repression of a demonstration of Algerians in Paris who were protesting against a curfew imposed on French Muslims in metropolitan France.

Dozens of Algerians are killed (perhaps between 150 and 200), bodies are found in the Seine.

There are hundreds of injuries and more than 10,000 arrests.

► To read also: Algerian historians demand access in Algeria to the archives of the war

■ February 13, 1962

: peaceful gathering of one million people in Paris A demonstration in Paris against the atrocities committed by the OAS was brutally suppressed in the Charonne metro station on February 8, leaving 8 dead and a hundred injured.

During the burial of the victims, more than a million people gather at Père Lachaise to pay their respects.

■ February 25, 1962

In Algiers, three days of raids and attacks left 109 dead.

■ March 18, 1962

Signing of the Evian Accords.

A referendum takes place in France on April 8 and in Algeria on July 1.

90.7% of voters in mainland France and 99.72% of voters in Algeria approve of the Évian agreements.

■ July 5, 1962

The independence of Algeria is proclaimed.

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