Independence Day (Algeria)

National holiday commemorating Algerian independence from France (5 July 1962)

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Independence Day of Algeria

Observed by| Algeria
Type| National
Celebrations| Flag Hoisting, Parades, Singing Patriotic Songs and the national anthem, Speech by the President of Algeria.
Date| July 5
Next time| July 5, 2025 (2025-07)
Frequency| Annual

Independence Day (Arabic: عيد الاستقلال, romanized: ʿīd al-istiqlāli, French: Jour de l'Indépendance), observed annually on 5 July, is a National Holiday in Algeria commemorating colonial Algerian independence from France on 5 July 1962.

## Algerian War (1954–1962)

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Main article: Algerian War

Front page Free Algeria  in 1950 for the celebration of the 13th anniversary of the Algerian People's Party.

The Algerian War of Independence began in November 1954 and ended in 1962. The war was very brutal and long, and was the most recent major turning point in Algeria's history. Although often fratricidal, it ultimately united Algerians and raised the value of independence and the philosophy of anticolonialism into the national consciousness. Abusive tactics of the French Army remains a controversial subject in France to this day.

In the early morning hours (12:00 am) of 1 November 1954, the National Liberation Army (L'armée de Libération Nationale—FLN) launched attacks throughout Algeria in the opening salvo of a war of independence. An important watershed in this war was the massacre of civilians by the FLN near the town of Philippeville in August 1955. The government claimed it killed 1,273 guerrillas in retaliation; according to the FLN, 12,000 Muslims perished in an orgy of bloodletting by the armed forces and police, as well as colon gangs. After Philippeville, all-out war began in Algeria. The FLN fought largely using guerrilla and terrorist tactics whilst the French counter-insurgency tactics often included severe reprisals and repression.

Eventually, protracted negotiations led to a cease-fire signed by France and the FLN on March 18, 1962, at Evian, France. The Evian accords also provided for continuing economic, financial, technical, and cultural relations, along with interim administrative arrangements until a referendum on self-determination could be held. The Evian accords guaranteed the religious and property rights of French settlers, but the perception that they would not be respected led to the exodus of one million pieds-noirs and harkis.

Between 350.000 and 1 million Algerians are estimated to have died during the war, and more than 2 million, out of a total Muslim population of 9 or 10 million, were made into refugees or forcibly relocated into government-controlled camps. Much of the countryside and agriculture was devastated, along with the modern economy, which had been dominated by urban European settlers (the pied-noirs). French sources estimated that at least 70,000 Muslim civilians were killed or abducted and presumed killed, by the FLN during the Algerian War. Nearly one million people of mostly French, Spanish and Italian[1] descent were forced to flee Algeria at independence due to the unbridgeable rifts opened by the civil war and threats from units of the victorious FLN. Along with them fled most Algerians of Jewish descent and those Muslim Algerians who had supported a French Algeria (harkis). 30–150,000 pro-French Muslims were also killed in Algeria by FLN in post-war reprisals.[2]

French President Charles De Gaulle pronounced Algeria an independent country on 3 July.[3] The decision was published in the official journal the following day,[4] and Algerian leaders declared 5 July, the anniversary of the French arrival in Algiers, to be Independence Day.[5]

## See also

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* Public holidays in Algeria

## References

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1. ^ Kimmelman, Michael (5 March 2009). "The New York Times". Archived from the original on 2017-11-09. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
2. ^ Alistair Horne, A Savage War of Peace (1977)
3. ^ John Pike. "Algerian National Liberation (1954-1962)". globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 2021-05-20. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
4. ^ Declaration recognising Algeria’s independence (Paris, 3 July 1962) Archived 22 June 2020 at the Wayback Machine CVCE
5. ^ Background Notes Archived 2023-06-27 at the Wayback Machine United States Department of State. Office of Media Services, p3

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Independence Day (Algeria).

* The Colonial System and Algerian Nationalism

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Holidays, observances, and celebrations in Algeria

January|

* New Year's Day (1)
* Yennayer (12)

February|

* Valentine's Day (14)
* Tafsut (28)

March|

* International Women's Day (8)
* Victory Day (19)
* World Water Day (22)
* Maghrebi Blood Donation Day (30)
* Spring vacation (2 last weeks)

April|

* April Fools' Day (1)
* Knowledge Day (16)
* Berber Spring (20)
* Earth Day (22)
* Election Day (Thursday)

May|

* International Workers' Day (1)
* World Press Freedom Day (3)
* Mother's Day (last Sunday)

June–July–August|

* Summer vacation (varies)

June|

* Children's Day (1)
* Father's Day (21)

July|

* Independence Day (5)

September|

* International Day of Peace (21)

October|

* International Day of Non-Violence (2)
* Halloween (31)

November|

* Revolution Day (1)

December|

* Christmas Eve (24)
* Christmas (25)
* New Year's Eve (31)
* Winter vacation (2 last weeks)

Varies (year round)|

* Hijri New Year's Day (Muharram 1)
* Ashura (Muharram 10)
* Ashura in Algeria
* Mawlid (Rabi' al-Awwal 12)
* Mawlid in Algeria
* Ramadan (Ramadan 1)
* Laylat al-Qadr (Ramadan 27)
* Eid al-Fitr (Shawwal 1)
* Day of Arafah (Dhu al-Hijjah 9)
* Eid al-Adha (Dhu al-Hijjah 10)

Bold indicates major holidays commonly celebrated in Algeria, which often represent the major celebrations of the month.
See also: Lists of holidays.
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