Ben Bella, Ahmed

Ben Bella, Ahmed (äkhmĕd` bĕn bĕl`lä), 1919–, Algerian statesman. After World War II he joined the Algerian nationalist movement and soon became a leader of its terrorist faction. He later (1952–56) served as director of the movement. Imprisoned (1956–62) for his activities, he became Algeria's first premier after independence was declared in 1962 and was elected president in 1963. In 1965, Ben Bella's government was toppled in a coup led by Houari Boumedienne and kept under house arrest until 1979.

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Ben Bella, Ahmed

(born Dec. 25, 1918?, Maghnia, Alg.) First elected president of Algeria. After a French education, he entered the French army and was decorated during World War II (1939–45). After the war he took up arms to fight French rule. In 1954 he helped found the National Liberation Front (FLN) and became its political leader. He was imprisoned (1956–62) while the FLN fought for Algerian independence. He took control of the FLN's Political Bureau after his release and was elected president in 1963. He was deposed in a coup in 1965 and imprisoned until 1980. Thereafter he spent 10 years in exile, returning to Algeria in 1990. See also Mohamed Boudiaf; Houari Boumedienne.