Houari
Boumedienne was born in Guelma, Algeria,
in 1927. He was educated in Egypt and in 1954 joined the Algerian
National Liberation Front (FLN). Under the leadership of Ahmed
Ben Bella the FLN fought a long war
of independence from France. In 1960 Boumedienne
was appointed chief of staff of the FLN.
In
1962 Algeria gained its independence and Ahmed
Ben Bella became
the country's first prime minister and in 1963 was elected president.
Boumedienne became Minister of National Defence.
Boumedienne
led a military coup against Ahmed
Ben Bella
in
1965. He established a Islamic socialist government and presided over
the Council of Revolution. Over the next ten years he kept good relations
with both sides of in the Cold War. Under
his leadership Algeria experienced rapid economic growth. In his final
years Boumedienne was unsuccessful in trying to establish a North
African Socialist Federation.
Houari
Boumedienne
died in 1978.
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