Algeria Celebrates 70 Years of Independence Movement Amid Tense Relations with France
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Roshan Amiri
- . November 1, 2024
- . Update: November 4, 2024 12:44 pm
Algeria commemorated the 70th anniversary of its struggle for freedom from French colonial authority on Friday with a great military display reflecting both national pride and growing regional tensions. Ground troops marched in close order while military jets elegantly followed graceful contrails above the grand mosque in the heavens over Algiers. Thousands of spectators applauded as the army honored the struggle that shaped present Algeria, gathering to commemorate the day that set off Algeria’s fight for statehood.
Remembering the Beginning Point of Independence
Starting on November 1, 1954, guerrillas from the National Liberation Front (FLN) began their first strikes against French government sites, igniting a deadly eight-year battle certain to kill hundreds of thousands of people. Reflecting the horrific effect on its population, Algeria estimates the mortality figure to be closer to 1.5 million while French estimates set the total at about half a million. Defined by strict repression, mass opposition, and global attention, the battle came to an end in 1962 with the signing of the Evian Accords, therefore defining Algeria as an independent nation.
Stressing it as a chance to inspire Algerians of their persistence and continuing growth, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune stated on the significance of the occasion seventy years later. Referring to the nation’s ongoing attitude as a lighthouse of independence and self-determination, he added, “Algeria, which triumphed over colonialism yesterday, continues to achieve victories with confidence.”
Notable individuals from all throughout North Africa came to the memorial event to underline Algeria’s continuous influence on a region. Among a shifting political landscape in the Maghreb, Tunisian President Kais Saied, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, and Libya’s Presidential Council head Mohamed al-Menfi participated in the celebrations, strengthening ties with Algeria.
Particularly absent was a delegate from neighboring Morocco, with which Algeria has had strained relations since official restoration of Moroccan-Israeli ties in 2021. Driven in part by conflicting opinions on the disputed Western Sahara area, which still causes great anxiety, Algeria’s diplomatic divide with Morocco has only been more noticeable over time. Present also was Brahim Ghali, the chairman of the Polisario Front—a group fighting for Western Saharan independence from Moroccan rule—signing Algeria’s continuous support for the cause.
Show of Military Power and National Pride
The day’s celebrations centered on a magnificent military display in which President Tebboune and Chief of Staff General Said Chengriha saluted the troops with a 70-gun salute over Algiers from an open-top car. Wreaths adorned the Martyrs’ Monument, a soaring homage to those who gave their lives during the independence struggle, therefore providing a sad meditation on the costs paid for Algeria’s freedom.
Algeria’s military has developed to be among the most strong in all of Africa, and its defense budget has lately seen notable increases. Approved similarly for 2024, the military budget virtually doubled in 2023 to reach $22 billion. This trend is expected to continue with forecasts for 2025 predicting a budget rise to $25 billion largely targeted on improving national defense capability. Considering Algeria’s ongoing reliance on long-standing relationships for military needs, Russia stays the top arms supplier for the country.
Looking ahead: beyond and with freedom Algerians find significant resonance in the anniversary of the war for freedom as they examine the struggle that defined the tenacity and spirit of their nation. As Algeria spends much in defense and keeps claiming itself on the regional level, the rituals serve as a reminder of the road from colonial dominance to a proud, self-sustaining nation. Focusing on improving its military might as well as its regional ties, Algeria honors its past and promotes itself as a prominent actor in North African geopolitics.
