ALGERIA: Ahmed Ben Bella, Algeria's first president after the country became independent from France half a century ago, dies following an illness

Record ID: 187126

  • Title: ALGERIA: Ahmed Ben Bella, Algeria's first president after the country became independent from France half a century ago, dies following an illness
  • Date: 12th April 2012
  • Summary: ALGIERS, ALGERIA (APRIL 11, 2012) (REUTERS) (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) VARIOUS OF POLICE STANDING OUTSIDE BEN BELLA'S HOUSE IN HYDRA, ALGIERS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ENTERING HOUSE / CARS ARRIVING MINISTER OF INTERIOR ARRIVING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) OULD KABILA, INTERIOR MINISTER, SAYING: "We were surprised when we heard the news even though we knew that he was Ill, but we lost a big personality, Algeria lost a historical man. He loved his country. And he was known for his integrity. He was among the first people in the system in the 40s. We are very sad." MORE OF POLICE OUTSIDE HOUSE (EVENING INTO NIGHT SHOTS) HEAD OF ISLAMIST PARTY ARRIVING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ABOUDJERRA SOLTANI, HEAD OF ISLAMIST PARTY MSP, SAYING: "Algeria lost one of it mountains and columns, Algeria lost also one of the biggest founders of the Algerian State. Someone who defended, fought and struggled in order that Algeria gets it freedom and independence. The president Ahmed Ben Bella is more than a president but he is like a father of Algeria, he is one of the fathers of the Algerian revolution, he is one of those who made the glories of this nation but everyone dies. Algeria lost him today and the whole world will remember this man who thanks to him the Algerian case became international, he gave Algeria glory and pride which makes us proud." MORE OF POLICE AND CARS OUTSIDE HOUSE (SOUNDBITE) (French) NACER MEHAL, MINISTER OF COMMUNICATION, SAYING: "He sacrificed and he gave his life to his homeland. And I think that his homeland is thankful and will give him back the deserved tribute, may the peace of God be upon him." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE HOUSE (SOUNDBITE) (French) SMAIL HAMDANI, FORMER FIRST MINISTER, SAYING: "The loss of the first head of the Algerian state, so it is an event for us and reminds us of lots of memories, he is an old militant of the national cause, so we came here to offer our condolences to his family and stand by them in this sad event." MORE OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE HOUSE
  • Embargoed: 27th April 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Algeria, Algeria
  • Country: Algeria
  • Topics: Obituaries,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAEYJZG3PRVBS88ELM648U090ZR
  • Story Text: Ahmed Ben Bella helped lead Algeria's fight for independence from France and after victory became its first president, a figure who symbolised the romance of the national liberation struggle before the harsh reality of running a country intruded.
    He died on Wednesday morning (April 11) in the Algerian capital, aged 96, after an illness, the state-run news agency reported.
    "We were surprised when we heard the news even though we knew that he was Ill, but we lost a big personality, Algeria lost a historical man. He loved his country. And he was known for his integrity. He was among the first people in the system in the 40s. We are very sad," said Interior Minister Ould Kabila said upon arriving at Ben Bella's home to pay his respects.
    Aboudjerra Soltani, head of Islamist Party MSP, called Ben Bella "a father of Algeria".
    The son of peasant farmers who grew up near Algeria's border with Morocco, Ben Bella was a decorated soldier in the French army during World War Two, and then joined Algeria's outlawed national independence movement, spending several years in French prisons.
    When France relinquished control of Algeria in 1962, Ben Bella became president. In orders issued in the heady days after independence, he helped shape the young country by nationalising industry and becoming a champion of Third World anti-colonialism.
    "He sacrificed and he gave his life to his homeland. And I think that his homeland is thankful and will give him back the deserved tribute, may the peace of God be upon him," said Communication Minister Nacer Mehal.
    However, Ben Bella lacked the political weight to build the young country and fend off challenges to his power. After three years he was pushed out by Houari Boumediene, from the independence movement's military wing, who took over as head of state.
    That event established a pattern, still in place half a century later, of the military exerting strong influence over Algeria's political life.
    Ben Bella subsequently spent years in jail and exile, only finally settling back in Algeria after Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the serving president, was elected in 1999.
    Ben Bella's death coincides with the 50th anniversary of Algerian independence. For many Algerians the date is bitter-sweet because they feel the hopes and aspirations that accompanied the country's birth have not been matched by events since then.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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