Ahmed Ben Bella

**Ahmed Ben Bella** (Arabic: أحمد بن بلّة, romanized: *Aḥmad bin Billah*; 25 December 1916 – 11 April 2012) na he be an Algerian politician, soldier den socialist revolutionary wey serve as de head of government of Algeria from 27 September 1962 to 15 September 1963 den then de first presido of Algeria from 15 September 1963 til ein overthrow on 19 June 1965.

Na Ben Bella play an important role during de Algerian war of independence against France, wey he dey lead de FLN, organizing de shipment of foreign weapons den dey coordinate political strategy from Cairo. Despite he no be present insyd Algeria, na French authorities try make dem assassinate am chaw times. Once na Algeria gain independence insyd 1962, na Ben Bella ein Oujda Group seize power from Benyoucef Benkhedda ein provisional government after a short crisis, wey na Ben Bella cam be prime minister of Algeria plus Ferhat Abbas as acting presido. Na Ben Bella succeed Ferhat Abbas on 15 September 1963 after he rapidly sideline am, wey na dem elect am presido after winning an election plus 99.6 per cent of de votes.

Na Ben Bella pursue Arab socialist den Pan-Arabist policies wey na he cam describe einself as a Nasserist. Na he nationalize chaw industries den establish good relations plus oda anti-Zionist Arab states den left-wing states such as Gamal Abdel Nasser ein Egypt den Fidel Castro ein Cuba. Na he encounter political conflict during ein presidency, wey na he face plus border clashes insyd de Sand War plus Morocco insyd 1963 den a failed rebellion by de Socialist Forces Front against ein regime insyd 1963–1964. Na dem oust am from power den put under house arrest after a coup d'état by ein Minister of Defense Houari Boumédiéne insyd 1965. Na dem free am from house arrest insyd 1980 wey he die insyd 2012.

## Early life
Na dem born Ahmed Ben Bella on 25 December 1916 insyd de commune of Maghnia. Na ein poppie be a farmer den small-time trader. Na he get four bros den two sistos. Na ein oldest brother die from wounds na he receive insyd de First World War, during wich na he fight give France. Na anoda bro die from illness den a third disappear insyd France insyd 1940, during de mayhem of de Nazi victory.

Na Ben Bella begin ein studies insyd Maghnia, wer na he go to de French school, wey na he continue dem insyd de city of Tlemcen, wer na he first cam be aware of racial discrimination. Na he be disturbed by de animus against Muslims express by ein European teacher, na he begin dey chafe against imperialism den colonialism wey he criticize de domination of French cultural influence over Algeria. Na during dis period, he join de nationalist movement.

## Illness, death den state funeral
Insyd February 2012, na dem admit Ben Bella to a hospital for medical checks. At de same time, na dem circulate a report dat na he die, buh na ein family deny dis.

Na Ben Bella die on 11 April 2012 at ein family home insyd Algiers. Though na de reasons of ein death be unknown, na dem treat am for respiratory illnesses twice at Ain Naadja. Na dem lay ein body in state on 12 April before de funeral at El Alia Cemetery on 13 April. Na Algeria declare eight days of national mourning.

### Heads of state den government present at state funeral

## Awards den honors
*Algeria:
** Sadr of de National Order of Merit (1999)
*Czechoslovakia:
** Grand Cross of de Order of the White Lion (1964)
*France:
** Croix de Guerre (1940)
** Médaille militaire (1944)
*Morocco:
** Grand Cordon of de Order of Ouissam Alaouite (2007)
*Singapore:
** Order of Temasek (1963)
*South Africa:
** Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo (2004)
*Soviet Union:
** Hero of the Soviet Union (1964)
** Order of Lenin (1964)
** Lenin Peace Prize (1964)
*Yugoslavia:
** Order of the Yugoslav Star (1964)

## References

## Read further
Aussaresses, General Paul, *The Battle of the Casbah: Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism in Algeria, 1955–1957*. New York: Enigma Books, 2010. 978-1-929631-30-8.

## External links

* Ben Bella's biography from rulers.org
* Profile of the ruler
* BBC on 20 June 1965 – on the coup against Ben Bella.
* Che Guevara, Cuba, And The Algerian Revolution by Ahmed ben Bella, *The Militant*, Vol. 62 / no 4, 2 February 1998
* BritanicaAcademic Ahmed Ben Bella, by Robert Merle
* Ahmed Ben Bella, Revolutionary Who Led Algeria After Independence, Dies at 93
* Appearances on C-SPAN