An independence referendum was held in French Algeria on 1 July 1962. It followed French approval of the Évian Accords in an April referendum. Voters were asked whether

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should become an independent state, co-operating with France; 99.72% voted in favour with a voter turnout of 91.88%. Following the referendum, France declared Algeria to be independent on 3 July; the decision was published in the official journal the following day, and Algerian leaders declared 5 July (the 132nd anniversary of the French arrival in Algiers) to be Independence Day. When Algeria ceased to be part of France it also ceased being part of the European Communities.

Background

The Algerian War was started by members of the National Liberation Front (FLN) with the

Toussaint Rouge (, "Red All Saints' Day"), also known as ("Bloody All-Saints' Day") is the name given to a series of 70 attacks committed by militant members of the Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN) that took place on 1 November 1954—the Catholic fes ...

attacks on 1 November 1954. Conflicts proliferated in France, including the May 1958 Algerian crisis that led to the fall of the Fourth Republic. French forces used brutal means of attempting to suppress Algerian nationalists, alienating support in metropolitan France and discrediting French prestige abroad. In 1960, French President

Charles de Gaulle Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle (; ; (commonly abbreviated as CDG) 22 November 18909 November 1970) was a French army officer and statesman who led Free France against Nazi Germany in World War II and chaired the Provisional Governm ...

agreed to negotiations with the FLN after major demonstrations in Algiers and other cities. A 1961 referendum on allowing self-determination for Algeria was approved by 75% of voters (including 70% of those voting in Algeria). Negotiations concluded with the signing of the Évian Accords in March 1962, which were approved by 91% of voters in a referendum on 8 April.

Results

The referendum question was phrased:

"Do you want Algeria to become an independent state, co-operating with France under the conditions defined in the declarations of 19 March 1962?"

Aftermath

In accordance with the Évian accords (Chapter III.3) France was allowed to maintain its Mers El Kébir naval base for fifteen years. However, all forces were withdrawn in 1967. Canadian historian John C. Cairns stated in 1962 that:Cairns, J. C. (1962). Algeria: The Last Ordeal. ''International Journal'', ''17''(2), 87–97.

References

{{Algerian elections

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Referendums in Algeria 1962 in Algeria

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