Steering the Algerian Liberation Revolution (1956–1962): A Comparative Analytical Study of the Coordination and Execution Committee’s Role

Abstract

The Algerian War of Liberation (1954–1962) is considered one of the greatest national liberation movements of the twentieth century, not only because of the political and military victory it achieved, but also because of the distinguished organizational and institutional experience it produced, which enabled it to endure and continue in the face of a harsh colonial system. In this context, the Coordination and Execution Committee emerged as one of the most important leadership bodies that played a central role in managing and implementing the decisions of the National Liberation Front, as it functioned as the executive body responsible for applying and enforcing the decisions of the National Council of the Algerian Revolution, within an integrated relationship aimed at unifying leadership and organizing revolutionary work both politically and militarily.

These two institutions emerged following the Soummam Conference (20 August 1956), which constituted a decisive turning point in the course of the revolution. It was held nearly two years after the outbreak of the revolution and served as an evaluative and organizational conference that responded to the requirements of the stage, seeking to overcome fragmentation, regulate structures, establish the principle of collective leadership, and create a relative separation between political and military tasks. From this perspective, the Coordination and Execution Committee represented a practical tool for translating the conference resolutions, both inside and outside the country, despite the obstacles and multiple difficulties it faced, including internal disagreements, the pressures of clandestine work, and the challenges posed by French colonial strategies against the liberation revolution. Nevertheless, it played a significant role during the Algerian Revolution.

The study concludes that the Coordination and Execution Committee, despite its short duration and the difficulties it encountered, represented a pioneering organizational and institutional experience that enabled the revolution to continue in the face of the French colonial system.