Description

Houari Boumédiène (1932–1978) was an Algerian military officer and politician. He served as Chairman of the Revolutionary Council from 1965 to 1976 and later as the second president of Algeria until his death. Boumédiène joined the National Liberation Front in 1955, rising to the rank of colonel and becoming the military wing commander. He overthrew President Ahmed Ben Bella in a bloodless coup in 1965, establishing the Revolutionary Council and consolidating power after surviving a coup attempt in 1967. Under his leadership, the oil industry was nationalized in 1971, and a gradual restoration of civil institutions began in the 1970s. Despite his strong opposition to Israel, support for anti-colonial movements, and Pan-Arabist policies, Boumédiène's presidency ended with his death in 1978 due to Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. His funeral drew two million mourners, and he was succeeded by Chadli Bendjedid.