DNE Africa – Algeria celebrated the 70th anniversary of the launch of its Liberation Revolution against French colonial rule on Friday with a grand military parade, showcasing its military might and reaffirming its commitment to independence.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, in his address, emphasized the enduring legacy of Algeria’s triumph over colonialism, stating, “Algeria, which once overcame colonialism, continues its path of victories with confidence.”
The parade displayed a variety of aerial, naval, and land units, as well as defense equipment, including Su-30 fighter jets, long-range missile-capable submarines, air defense systems, and T-90 tanks.
Tebboune stressed that the Algerian army’s armaments serve solely for defense, highlighting its dedication to safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and contributing to international peace and security.
The Algerian War, which began on Nov. 1, 1954, with the National Liberation Front of Algeria (FLN) launching attacks against French targets, ultimately led to Algeria’s independence in 1962. The struggle for independence was marked by significant support from Egypt, particularly under President Gamal Abdel Nasser.
Nasser was a strong vocal supporter of the Algerian resistance movement and provided substantial military aid to the FLN. This support, coupled with Nasser’s nationalization of the Suez Canal, angered France and prompted them to join the United Kingdom and Israel in an attack on Egypt during the Suez Crisis of 1956.
“France would have fewer problems if Nasser was removed,” said General André Beaufre, commander of the French forces during the Suez Crisis, highlighting the French frustration with Egypt’s support for Algeria.
Records from archives and conversations further substantiate the French position. US Secretary of State John Foster Dulles and US President Dwight D. Eisenhower, in one such conversation, claimed that “the French would rather fight at the center of trouble (Egypt) rather than around the periphery of difficulty (Algeria)”.
Nasser, according to his advisor Fathi al-Dib, was determined to support the Algerian cause, directing al-Dib to deliver as many arms and supplies as possible to the FLN, even through airlifts if necessary. Many shipments were smuggled through the border with Libya, and Algerians also received military training in Egypt.
The Egyptian support for Algeria continued even after the Suez Crisis, with Nasser providing arms and supplies, and ultimately helping Algeria gain its independence. The Algerian people have never forgotten this support, nor the sacrifices made by Egyptians in the fight for Algerian freedom.
In turn, the Algerian people and President Houari Boumediene have consistently supported Egypt, particularly after the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. This support continued after Nasser’s departure and extended to the 1973 war.
