Algeria At 62: From Revolution To Rebuilding A Republic

On July 5, 1962, Algeria formally declared its independence from French colonial rule, bringing an end to 132 years of occupation and nearly eight years of armed struggle. Today, as the nation marks its 62nd Independence Day, it stands not only as one of the youngest republics in North Africa, but also as a symbol of one of the 20th century’s most significant anti-colonial movements.

According to Al jazeera, Algeria’s independence came through the National Liberation War (1954–1962), led by the Front de Libération Nationale (FLN). It was a prolonged and violent conflict, marked by systematic repression, aerial bombardments, forced relocations, and widespread civilian casualties. According to official Algerian estimates, more than 1.5 million Algerians were killed, with hundreds of thousands more displaced during the war.

The Evian Accords, signed on March 18, 1962, between the French government and FLN representatives, brought a ceasefire and paved the way for a referendum. On July 1, Algerians voted overwhelmingly in favour of independence, and the formal declaration followed four days later. France recognised Algeria’s sovereignty shortly after.

Following independence, Algeria faced the challenge of reconstructing a state apparatus almost entirely built by its former coloniser. The newly formed People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria adopted a one-party socialist model under the FLN, with Ahmed Ben Bella as its first president. Nationalisation of land, industry, and especially hydrocarbons (in 1971) became central to Algeria’s economic planning. Education was restructured, and a large-scale Arabisation policy was initiated to replace French with Modern Standard Arabic in administration and schooling.

According to BBC, Ben Bella was overthrown in a bloodless coup in 1965 by his defence minister, Houari Boumédiène, who led the country until his death in 1978. Boumédiène pursued state-led industrialisation and built international alliances through the Non-Aligned Movement. His era is often remembered for economic centralisation and stability, albeit under an authoritarian political framework.

In the decades that followed, Algeria’s economy remained reliant on oil and gas revenues, which account for over 90% of export earnings. Political liberalisation remained limited, and by the late 1980s, economic downturns and popular unrest forced a constitutional revision.

The Civil Conflict And Its Aftermath

In 1989, Algeria introduced a multi-party system, and the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) emerged as a dominant political force. When the FIS appeared poised to win the 1991 parliamentary elections, the military intervened, annulling the results and triggering a decade-long civil war known as the “Black Decade”.

As per BBC Archives, Between 1992 and 2002, the conflict between the Algerian government and various Islamist groups, most notably the Armed Islamic Group (GIA), led to the deaths of an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 people. The violence included massacres, disappearances, and targeted killings of intellectuals, journalists, and civilians.

The war gradually subsided after Abdelaziz Bouteflika came to power in 1999 and introduced national reconciliation policies, including amnesty offers for militants. While these policies helped restore relative stability, they also led to criticisms over lack of justice and continued restrictions on civil liberties.

Bouteflika’s presidency, which lasted two decades (1999–2019), was marked by economic recovery buoyed by rising oil prices and renewed foreign investment. Algeria re-engaged with global institutions, restructured debt, and launched major infrastructure projects.

However, political stagnation and allegations of corruption persisted. In 2019, as per Al jazeera amid mass protests against Bouteflika’s plan to seek a fifth term, millions of Algerians took to the streets as part of the Hirak movement — a peaceful, nationwide mobilisation demanding democratic reforms, transparency, and an end to military interference in politics.

Bouteflika eventually resigned in April 2019, and new elections were held in December. Former prime minister Abdelmadjid Tebboune was elected president. In response to the Hirak demands, Tebboune’s government introduced constitutional reforms in 2020, which included limits on presidential terms, recognition of the Amazigh language, and provisions for press freedom — though critics argue that enforcement remains inconsistent.

As cited by Reuters, In recent years, the Algerian government has undertaken efforts to promote youth participation in politics and governance. Several young ministers and members of parliament were appointed following the 2021 legislative elections, which saw historically low voter turnout (23%). These appointments were positioned as part of broader attempts to modernise governance and respond to a generation that has grown up post-civil war but continues to face high unemployment, restricted mobility, and limited economic diversification.

Efforts have also been made to streamline Algeria’s bureaucracy and digitise services. The government has prioritised economic diversification, though hydrocarbons continue to dominate the national budget.