Messali Hadj
Encyclopedia
Ahmed Ben Messali Hadj (1898 in Tlemcen
, Algeria
- June 3, 1974 in Paris
, France
) was an Algerian nationalist politician dedicated to the independence of his homeland from France. He co-founded the 'Étoile Nord-Africaine', the 'Parti du Peuple Algérien' and the 'Mouvement pour le Triomphe des Libertés Démocratiques' before dissociating himself from the armed struggle for Independence in 1954. He also founded the 'Mouvement National Algerien' to counteract the ongoing efforts of the 'Front de Libération Nationale'.
. He attended the Anti-Imperialism Congress in Belgium
that year, which created the League against Imperialism
, and met with Vietnam
's Ho Chi Minh
. Back in France and in his native Algeria, then a French colony
, Messali helped build an underground movement and work towards Algerian independence. In the 1920s he started Étoile Nord-Africaine
(North African Star), one of the first modern Algerian nationalist organizations, and in 1937 he founded the Algerian People's Party
(PPA). Both groups were suppressed by France, and in November 1937, Messali was put on trial for agitation, and imprisoned for several years.
In 1946 Messali founded the Mouvement pour le Triomphe des Libertés Démocratiques (MTLD). Messali lived under house arrest in Brittany
, France, and could not travel to Algeria. His group was perceived as moderate and accommodating, but his revolutionary ideals alienated parts of Algeria's conservative
Muslim
society. Messali's brand of Algerian nationalism gained its most important following among Algerian workers in France, while the FLN and other grass-roots groups took hold in Algeria.
in 1954 which was started against his wishes, Messali created the Mouvement National Algérien, or MNA (French
Algerian National Movement). Messali's followers clashed with the FLN; his was the only socialist faction not absorbed into the Front's fight for independence. The FLN's armed wing, the Armée de Libération Nationale
(ALN) wiped out the MNA's guerrilla
apparatus in Algeria early on in the war; the infighting then continued in France, during the so-called "café wars
" over control of the expatriate
community. In 1958 Messali supports the proposals of President Charles de Gaulle
and France probably attempted to capitalize on the internal rivalries of the nationalist movement. During negotiation talks in 1961 the FLN did not accept the participation of the MNA and led to new outbursts of fighting.
Messali Hadj remained in exile near Paris, with little influence over Algerian politics. He died in 1974.
Tlemcen
Tlemcen is a town in Northwestern Algeria, and the capital of the province of the same name. It is located inland in the center of a region known for its olive plantations and vineyards...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
- June 3, 1974 in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) was an Algerian nationalist politician dedicated to the independence of his homeland from France. He co-founded the 'Étoile Nord-Africaine', the 'Parti du Peuple Algérien' and the 'Mouvement pour le Triomphe des Libertés Démocratiques' before dissociating himself from the armed struggle for Independence in 1954. He also founded the 'Mouvement National Algerien' to counteract the ongoing efforts of the 'Front de Libération Nationale'.
Background
In 1927 Messali Hadj was elected leader of an Algerian workers' association based in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He attended the Anti-Imperialism Congress in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
that year, which created the League against Imperialism
League against Imperialism
The League against Imperialism was founded in the Egmont Palace in Brussels, Belgium, on February 10, 1927, in presence of 175 delegates, among which 107 came from 37 countries under colonial rule. The Congress aimed at creating a "mass anti-imperialist movement" at a world scale, and was...
, and met with Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
's Ho Chi Minh
Ho Chi Minh
Hồ Chí Minh , born Nguyễn Sinh Cung and also known as Nguyễn Ái Quốc, was a Vietnamese Marxist-Leninist revolutionary leader who was prime minister and president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam...
. Back in France and in his native Algeria, then a French colony
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
, Messali helped build an underground movement and work towards Algerian independence. In the 1920s he started Étoile Nord-Africaine
Étoile Nord-Africaine
The Étoile Nord-Africaine or ENA was an early Algerian nationalist organization founded in 1926. It was dissolved first in 1929, then reorganised in 1933 but was later finally dissolved in 1937...
(North African Star), one of the first modern Algerian nationalist organizations, and in 1937 he founded the Algerian People's Party
Algerian People's Party
The Algerian People's Party , was a successor organization of the North African Star , led by veteran Algerian nationalist Messali Hadj. It was formed on March 11, 1937...
(PPA). Both groups were suppressed by France, and in November 1937, Messali was put on trial for agitation, and imprisoned for several years.
Radicalization in Algeria
In May 1945, nationalist riots and clashes between French troops and native Algerians during World War II victory celebrations led to reprisals; around 6000 Algerians were killed. Many realized then that the independence movement would not succeed by peaceful means.In 1946 Messali founded the Mouvement pour le Triomphe des Libertés Démocratiques (MTLD). Messali lived under house arrest in Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, France, and could not travel to Algeria. His group was perceived as moderate and accommodating, but his revolutionary ideals alienated parts of Algeria's conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
society. Messali's brand of Algerian nationalism gained its most important following among Algerian workers in France, while the FLN and other grass-roots groups took hold in Algeria.
Leader of the MNA
After the outbreak of the Algerian War of IndependenceAlgerian War of Independence
The Algerian War was a conflict between France and Algerian independence movements from 1954 to 1962, which led to Algeria's gaining its independence from France...
in 1954 which was started against his wishes, Messali created the Mouvement National Algérien, or MNA (French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
Algerian National Movement). Messali's followers clashed with the FLN; his was the only socialist faction not absorbed into the Front's fight for independence. The FLN's armed wing, the Armée de Libération Nationale
Armée de Libération Nationale
The Armée de Libération Nationale or ALN was the armed wing of the nationalist Front de Libération National during the Algerian War of Independence...
(ALN) wiped out the MNA's guerrilla
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
apparatus in Algeria early on in the war; the infighting then continued in France, during the so-called "café wars
Café wars
The Café Wars took place during the Algerian War, as a part of the internal fighting in France between two rival Algerian nationalist movements, the MNA and the FLN ....
" over control of the expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
community. In 1958 Messali supports the proposals of President Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
and France probably attempted to capitalize on the internal rivalries of the nationalist movement. During negotiation talks in 1961 the FLN did not accept the participation of the MNA and led to new outbursts of fighting.
After independence
In 1962, as Algeria gained independence from France, Messali tried to transform his group into a legitimate political party, but it was not successful, and the FLN seized control over Algeria as a one-party state.Messali Hadj remained in exile near Paris, with little influence over Algerian politics. He died in 1974.
External links
- The Messali Hadj Archive - from www.marxists.org