Hocine Ait Ahmed, one of he heroes of Algeria’s war of independence against France has died in Switzerland at the age of 89, official sources said
ADVERTISEMENTHocine Ait Ahmed, one of he heroes of Algeria’s war of independence against France has died in Switzerland at the age of 89, official sources said.
He helped to launch the independence war that eventually brought the North African country to freedom in 1962.
“This is a symbol of Algeria’s independence as well as a respected leader who campaigned for democracy,” one senior government official is reported to have said.
He was a founding leader of the resistance in 1954 and was among a group of senior figures captured two years later.
After independence he broke with the new government. He formed the Front of Socialist Forces (FFS) party.
He called the new rulers undemocratic and was arrested. He sought exile in Switzerland from where he became a symbol of opposition.