The physical and human losses in the Algerian War of Independence were immense. Nearly one million Algerians, mainly Muslims, had been killed. Two million had been uprooted from their homes (even apart from the one million colons who uprooted themselves). The war left half a million widows, a quarter of a million orphans, thousands of cripples and beggars and one million unemployed. Eight thousand villages had been destroyed alongside farms, factories, offices and hospitals. The French had left few trained Muslims to reconstruct the country, to run the civil service, to man schools and hospitals, and to engage in modern farming. At the time of independence Algeria remained desperately dependent on France for its economic survival let alone for extra assistance.

On the positive side, the war had aroused the national consciousness of Algerians and given them the will to build a new nation. As Fanon put it:

on the Algerian soil a new society has come to birth, The men and women of Algeria today (1951 resemble neither those of 1930 nor those of 1954, nor yet those of 1957. The old Algeria is dead- All the innocent blood that has flowed on to the national soil has produced anew humanity."

One need not dispute Fanon's analysis to argue that the 'new society' in Algeria was a vision of the future rather than practical reality at the time of independence. In spite of the new political awareness and the change in the role of women in Algerian society, the FLN had not had an opportunity to set a new pattern in economic relations. The FLN had failed, for example, to develop along the pattern of the Viet Minh, that is, had failed to establish effective liberated zones, and had remained a mere guerilla force rather than becoming a nation-wide army- To this extent the FLN was similar to the Land Freedom Army in Kenya, but different from the later guerilla movements in Portuguese Africa. where substantial social and economic reform could take place in liberated areas. The economic programme of the FLN / GPRA was deliberately vague on the issue of capitalism or socialism; agreement was reached only on the necessity of agrarian reform, but not on the form it would take.

The FLN did, however, succeed in uniting behind the armed struggle Muslims of different social classes, economic groups arid linguistic communities (such as Kabyles and Arabic-speakers); it had neither the time nor the opportunity to eliminate these contradictions - a task that would later have to be taken up by the independent government. In spite of the achievements of the FLN, it should be understood that it did not defeat the French army- France kept half a million soldiers in Algeria and contained the FLN. De Gaulle gave power to the FLN after political negotiations at Evian.

COL. TAHAR ZBIRI "Disappeared" after staging an abortive coup.

Therefore at no time before France's political withdrawal did the FLN control significant areas of Algerian territory- Indeed from early 1961 onwards an FLN army was kept In reserve on the Tunisian side of the border, not for an offensive against the French, but as a disciplined force ready to enforce the FLN's authority in Algeria after independence had been negotiated around the conference table. Algeria and Kenya are not illustrations of white settlers surrendering their power to Africans. They were both instances of the colonial government being no longer willing to support the European settlers in maintaining themselves in power.13

Algerians were allowed to practice their Islamic religion. This was a religion they had before the coming of the French.

Algerians were at last given chance to gain education rights, and employment in their country.

Algerians got land and used it unconditionally.

Algeria became a centre for the third world liberation movements in Africa. This included the assistance given to Polisario, PAIGC, among others

In Sept. 1958, the Algerian FLN formed a government in exile known as government provincial (or Republique du Algeria (GPRA).

In France, the new political arrangements were made that gave the 4^th French Republic legal powers to negotiate with FLN without fear.

Massive industrialization was taken on by Ben Bella's government, heavy industries based on petroleum, canning, and cement gas were established.

There were internal struggle for power within Algeria which led to the coup of 1965. Col. Boumedienne overthrew president Ben Bella which resulted into chaos in the country.

There was a high level of unemployment and underemployment, for example by 1964, 70,000 Algerians were on French streets searching for work.

Algeria became independent in 1962.

Democratic governance. Under Ben Bella and his successor Houari Boumedienne, a democratic form of governance was introduced to replace French dictatorship.

Land reforms were carried out. As a number of French settlers fled from Algeria, large pieces of land were left open for Algerians to occupy.

Working conditions were improved. Forced labour was abolished, employment opportunities were created for ail and wages increased.

Agricultural modernisation. The government set up a green dam to provide water for irrigation, to reclaim arid areas and improve on pastoralism.

It created harmony between Algeria and France. The revolutionary government did not cut off the diplomatic relations with France.

There was a cultural revival: The French cultural imperialism was ended and Islamic culture was revived.

Creation of law and order. The revolutionaries created a new coherent and disciplined police force to keep law and order in urban centres.

Algeria adopted a socialist ideology. Ben Bella nationalised all the major means of production and assets left behind by foreigners.

The War aroused national consciousness amongst the Algerians. FLN leaders called for unity amongst Algerian Moslems of different social and economic backgrounds.

It led to the formation of the Maghreb union. Algeria and other North African Maghreb countries formed a gee-economic union known as the Maghreb union-with a future aim of forming a political union.

It contributed to the rise of African nationalism.

Diplomatic ties were established with outside countries. The FLN's external missions in Egypt, Tunisia, Europe, America and Asia attracted international sympathies for Algerians.

All political prisoners were released

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