Mostefa Ben-Boulaïd ( ar, مصطفى بن بولعيد) (5 February 1917 – 22 March 1956) was an Algerian revolutionary leader.

Biography

World War II

Ben-Boulaid was born in

Arris In architecture, an arris is the sharp edge formed by the intersection of two surfaces, such as the corner of a masonry unit; the edge of a timber in timber framing; the junction between two planes of plaster or any intersection of divergent a ...

Batna Province Batna Province ( ar, ولاية باتنة, Latn, ar, Wilāyat Bātnah) is a province of Algeria, in the region of Aurès. The capital is Batna. Localities in this province include N'Gaous, Merouana and Timgad. Belezma National Park is in t ...

Algeria ) , image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Algiers , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , religi ...

. In 1939, he underwent mandatory military service and was mobilized to fight for the allies during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

. In 1944, during the Italian campaign, Ben-Boulaid exhibited courage, which earned him the Military Medal and the

Croix de Guerre The ''Croix de Guerre'' (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awa ...

. He was demobilised with the rank of adjutant, returned home, and joined the

Algerian People's Party The Algerian People's Party (in French, Parti du Peuple Algerien PPA), was a successor organization of the North African Star (''Étoile Nord-Africaine''), led by veteran Algerian nationalist Messali Hadj. It was formed on March 11, 1937. In 1936, ...

(PPA).

Revolutionary figure

Ben-Boulaid became an important political and military figure in the Special Organization (OS). He bought weapons with his own funds, supported militants being pursued by the French authorities and distributed arms. Ben-Boulaid contested the Assembly of Algeria election of 1948 and won decisively. However, the results were falsified by the French authorities. He was a founding member of the Revolutionary Committee of Unity and Action (CRUA). From 22–25 June 1954, he chaired a crucial meeting which aimed to unite the revolutionary forces. He became a member of the "Committee of the Six" ( the insurgent leaders). During the

Algerian war The Algerian War, also known as the Algerian Revolution or the Algerian War of Independence,( ar, الثورة الجزائرية '; '' ber, Tagrawla Tadzayrit''; french: Guerre d'Algérie or ') and sometimes in Algeria as the War of 1 November ...

, Ben-Boulaid was responsible for Area I (

Aurès , native_name_lang = , settlement_type = Natural region , image_skyline = Ras el Aïoun.jpg , image_alt = , image_caption = Landscape of the Aurès in Ras el Aïoun , image_flag ...

). He engaged heavily armed French forces and suffered heavy losses. In 1955, he traveled to

Libya Libya (; ar, ليبيا, Lībiyā), officially the State of Libya ( ar, دولة ليبيا, Dawlat Lībiyā), is a country in the Maghreb region in North Africa. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Su ...

to purchase arms. He participated in the battle of Ifri el blah and the battle of Ahmar Khaddou near

Batna Batna or BATNA may refer to: *Batna (city), Algeria *Batna Province, Algeria *Best alternative to a negotiated agreement In negotiation theory, the best alternative to a negotiated agreement or BATNA (no deal option) refers to the most advantageou ...

Arrest and escape

On 11 February 1955, Ben-Boulaid was arrested in Tunisia. Ben-Boulaid was imprisoned at "Coudiat Aty" Central Prison in

Constantine Constantine most often refers to: * Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from 306 to 337, also known as Constantine I *Constantine, Algeria, a city in Algeria Constantine may also refer to: People * Constantine (name), a masculine given nam ...

and was sentenced to death. In November 1955, with the complicity of a prison warden, Djaffer Chérif, who was from Ben-Boulaid's home town, Ben-Boulaid escaped, along with other prisoners. One of the other prisoners was Tahar Zbiri, who went on to initiate a failed coup against President

Houari Boumediene Houari is a given name and surname. It may refer to: Persons Given name * Houari Boumédiène, also transcribed Boumediene, Boumedienne etc. (1932–1978), served as Chairman of the Revolutionary Council of Algeria from 19 June 1965 until 12 Decemb ...

in 1967. During the escape, one of Ben-Boulaid's comrades was injured, recaptured, and subsequently

decapitated Decapitation or beheading is the total separation of the head from the body. Such an injury is invariably fatal to humans and most other animals, since it deprives the brain of oxygenated blood, while all other organs are deprived of the i ...

Death

On 22 March 1956, Ben-Boulaïd died in the blast of a parachuted French radio bomb.

Gallery

File:Benboulaid buste.jpg, The bust of Mostefa Ben-Boulaïd in

Wilaya of

File:Tombe nara.jpg, The tomb of Si Moustefa (right) and his companion Amrani (left) in Nara, Arris wilaya of Batna File:Mustapha Ben boulaïd.jpg, Photo taken after his arrest (11 February 1955)

Legacy

The main squares of Batna and Arris host busts of Ben-Boulaid. In Batna, an alley and a high school was named for him. In

Annaba Annaba ( ar, عنّابة, "Place of the Jujubes"; ber, Aânavaen), formerly known as Bon, Bona and Bône, is a seaport city in the northeastern corner of Algeria, close to the border with Tunisia. Annaba is near the small Seybouse Ri ...

, one of the avenues that connects Bertagna boulevard (formerly Cours Bertagna) and the Avenue of the Revolution bears his name as do the neighborhoods of Saint-Cloud, Plaisance and Kouba, and beaches and Chapuis Toche. The airport of

is named after Ben-Boulaid.

Film

In 2006-2007, Ahmed Rachedi produced a documentary called, ''A film about Ben-Boulaïd'' in collaboration with the Ministry of Veterans (''Ministère des Moudjahidine'') and the Ministry of Culture (''Ministère de la culture et l'entreprise'') and Missane Balkis films. It was part of the 2007 festival, "Algiers, Capital of Arab Culture" ("''Alger, capitale de la culture arabe 2007")''.

Books

*''Au forgeron de Batna'', Jean-Pierre Marin, foreword by Jean Deleplanque
''Au forgeron de Batna'' at Google Books.

References

External links

Biographic article in ''Monde'', Algeria, (Biographie sur Algérie-Monde.com)Photo in a gallery of Algeria's revolution heroes (Elias Filali Pbase)
at Jeeran.com. {{DEFAULTSORT:Benboulaid, Mustapha 1917 births 1956 deaths Algerian People's Party politicians Algerian revolutionaries Berber rebels Chaoui people People from Batna Province Members of the National Liberation Front (Algeria) 20th-century Algerian people French military personnel of World War II