Messali Hadj

Messali Hadj (مصاليالحاج), born with Tlemcen (Algeria) in 1898 and died in Paris in 1974, is the founder of the Algerian National movement, one of the first Algerian nationalist organizations, competitor of FLN.

He emigrates in Paris after the First World War, attends the French Communist party and Marie with a French Communist Emilie Busquant, he will have two children with it: Ali and Djanina. Under the influence of Chekib Arslan it moves away from the Communist party, and founds, in 1926, the North-African Star, then, in 1937, the Algerian Popular party which is interdict in 1939.
In 1941, it is condemned to the forced labors and the demonstrations requiring its release are one of the causes of the massacres of Sétif in May 1945. However, its strategy reformist is considered too moderated by part of the nationalist youth which considers that the time of the armed struggle came. The foundation of the FLN and increasing adhesion that this new party causes in Algeria involve the progressive marginalisation of Messali Hadj.
In 1954, it founds the Algerian National movement which is opposed to the FLN and which is the only party of inspiration Socialiste not to be absorbed in the face combatant for independence. The fratricidal fight between “messalists” and “frontists”, within the liberation movement, is extremely bloody, both in Algeria and in metropolis, in immigration. Assigned with residence in Angouleme (Charente), Messali Hadj loses little by little its influence. The French government however trying to benefit from the internal competitions to the Algerian nationalist movement tries to make take part the MNA in the negotiations of independence which take place as from 1961. The FLN is opposed to it, which starts new settlings of score between the partisans from these two organizations.
Messali Hadj obtains Algerian nationality only in 1965. Its role in the foundation of Algerian nationalism is always undervalued by the current Algerian authorities. He dies in 1974 without to have been able to re-examine his native land.

External bonds

Biographie on Bookrags
Marxists Internet Files: biography and texts

Random links: