Algerian Extremists

FLN
The actions of the second World War saw the rapid development of nationalism in Algeria. These nationalist sentiments increased in frequency and severity, leading up to the founding of the Special Organisation in 1947 by Mohamed Belouizdad. This secretive parliament plotted to overthrow the French government in place in Algeria, freeing the nation from its colonial bonds. The peaceful protest movement had now been abandoned after the terrible Setif and Guelma Massacre, an incident in the spring of 1945 during which French police shot and killed peaceful protestors in Setif. The Special Organisation would evolve into the Revolutionary Committee of Unity and Action (CRUA), later renamed the National Liberation Front (FLN). This party became the leading force in the Algerian War of Independence.

Fighting began in late 1954, when the FLN attacked French forces using guerilla tactics during what would be known as the Red All-Saints’ Day. The war only lasted under 6 years, at which point the French entered into peace negotiations under the leadership of Charles de Gaulle. Shortly thereafter, in 1962, independence was declared in Algeria and the FLN was installed as the leading legal party. Their presidential elects would rule the country until 1991. At this point in time, elections would have finally been held in Algeria; however, when Islamic Salvation Front candidate led the polls in the elections, the FLN seized control of the nation with its military might. After another short period of civil war, Algeria once again achieved peace, and now the FLN holds a large but not overpowering portion of governmental seats.

UDMA
Democratic Union of the Algerian Manifesto was one of the first movements towards quasi-independence in Algeria. The association, founded by Ferhat Abbas in 1946, sought to achieve autonomous state status in Algeria. Preferably, Algeria would become its own nation as part of the French system of federalism. The UDMA was one of the several important predecessors to the National Liberation Front, and eventually the nationalist UDMA would dissolve in order to join the FLN in its revolution.

Algerian Communist Party
With beginnings in the French Communist Party and the extremist movements of the post-World War I 1920’s, the Algerian Communist Party (PCA), under the leadership of Bachir Hadj Ali, opposed the National Liberation Front and the Algerian Revolution. The PCA originally sided with France, believing Algeria to be too premature to manage itself adequately. However, in 1955 the party joined the revolutionaries after being banned from France. The party, like many others in Algeria at the time, dissolved when joining the National Liberation Front, furthering the power and influence of that one revolutionist, nationalist group. After the Algerian War of Independence, the PCA eventually regrouped under the Democratic and Social Movement to become known as the Socialist Vanguard Party. With that name, the party continued its role in Algerian politics as a sharp leftist organization that balances and opposes power groups like the FLN as one of many ‘third parties.’