Provisional Government Founding Recalled in Algeria
Algeria commemorates the 68th anniversary of the founding of its Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic (GPRA), a historical milestone that marked a decisive turn in the national liberation revolution. This establishment created a political and institutional framework that represented the Algerian people in international forums, shifting their cause from military confrontation to organized diplomacy and political engagement. Senate Speaker Azzouz Nasseri highlighted the GPRA's role in supporting the liberation revolution and ensuring the Algerian people's voice was heard internationally, defending their right to freedom, independence, and sovereignty.
The commemoration of September 19, 1958, signifies the national struggle's transition to a new level of political and diplomatic organization. The GPRA provided an institutional framework that could defend the legitimacy of the Algerian people's demands and represent them externally. This move solidified the revolution's capability to combine military, political, and diplomatic efforts, countering French colonial attempts to isolate the Algerian cause. The GPRA's establishment followed decisions by the National Council of the Algerian Revolution in Cairo between August 20-27, 1957, and was officially announced simultaneously from three Arab capitals on September 19, 1958. Through its three formations between 1958 and 1962, it gradually asserted its presence as the political representative of the Algerian people, gaining recognition from over 30 Arab, African, Asian, and American states.
From its inception, the Provisional Government intensified its external activities, with members participating in international, African, and Arab conferences, and undertaking visits to allied and sympathetic countries. The United Nations became a prominent arena for the GPRA's diplomatic work, with early international actions including the condemnation of General de Gaulle's referendum on September 20, 1958. This reflected the revolution's strategic use of international platforms to present the Algerian cause and advocate for the people's right to self-determination. The GPRA's role extended beyond internationalizing the Algerian issue and gaining external support; it was instrumental in the political process that led to negotiations with France. Its existence as a political framework provided the Algerian party for negotiations concerning the country's future.
The Provisional Government's presence was crucial during the Evian negotiations, which culminated in the March 1962 agreements. These agreements established a path that affirmed the Algerian people's right to self-determination, leading to the declaration of independence and the restoration of national sovereignty on July 5, 1962. As political expert Dr. Farouk Taifour stated, the GPRA's founding transferred the national struggle from the
