France finally gives Algeria independence

France and the provisional Government of Algeria signed the Évian accords conferring full independence to Algeria on 18 March 1962. France invaded Algeria in 1830 and colonized it with settlers over the next decades. Nationalism grew from the 1920s, but met fierce resistance from French settlers. An independence movement began during World War II but an uprising in Sétif was brutally crushed in 1945. The one million strong European community, the so-called Pied-Noir, wanted to stay with France and not give citizenship, equity and freedom to the 9 million Muslim Algerians.

Not seeing a way to gain independence peacefully some nationalists formed the National Liberation Front (FLN) in 1954 and started armed struggle and terror against the French. The war of independence turned out to become very bloody, French losses amounted to 27.000 military and 5-6.000 civilians killed. Algerian casualties were from 300.000 (French estimates) to 1.5 million (Algerian estimates).

The war had a huge impact on French politics, and brought Charles de Gaulle to the presidency in 1958. He created a new constitution and the 5^th French Republic.  De Gaulle started negotiations with FLN in Évian in France. It was here the accords ending the war were signed. A referendum, where the population would vote on independence, was to take place in July 1962. When July came 800.000 Pied-Noir had fled to France, and the vast majority of Algerians voted in favour of independence. It would turn out to be less freedom to the people than they had expected.



The FLN delegation signing the Evian accord on 18 March 1962.

French president De Gaulle's speech in Algiers in 1958.

Sources and more information
The Arabs, Eugene Rogan, Basic Books New York 2009, pp. 322-31. http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/15078/Algerian-War
http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/750411/Abdelaziz-Bouteflika
Video: Algerian War of Independence
(1960) CIA Archives French President Charles De Gaulle.
26 min.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnMEc-rrheM


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Bjarte Bjørsvik