Today in history: On September 15, 1963 - Ahmed Ben Bella is elected the first president of Algeria.

 

In 1963, Ahmed Ben Bella became the first president of independent Algeria, marking a significant milestone in the country’s history. A leading figure in the National Liberation Front (FLN).

Ben Bella had been a central player in the Algerian War of Independence against French colonial rule, which lasted from 1954 to 1962. After Algeria gained independence in July 1962, he quickly emerged as a dominant political force.

benefiting from both his revolutionary credentials and support from the military. On September 15, 1963, following the approval of a new constitution, Ben Bella was formally elected president, cementing his position as the head of the newly sovereign state.

His rise symbolized not only the triumph of Algerian nationalism but also the aspirations of a young nation seeking to establish its identity after more than 130 years of French rule.

As president, Ben Bella pursued a socialist agenda, promoting agrarian reform, nationalizing key sectors of the economy, and fostering closer ties with other revolutionary and non-aligned nations.

However, his administration quickly revealed signs of authoritarianism, as political dissent was suppressed and power became increasingly concentrated in his hands. While his leadership inspired many Algerians with a vision of independence and progress

his policies also created tension within the FLN and the broader political landscape. His presidency lasted only two years before he was overthrown in a coup led by his former ally and defense minister, Houari Boumédiène, in 1965.

Nevertheless, Ben Bella’s election in 1963 remains a landmark moment in Algeria’s post-colonial history, symbolizing the first steps of a nation transitioning from colonial subjugation to self-rule.

See also: Today in history: On September 14, 1994 – The rest of the Major League Baseball season is canceled because of a strike.