The Early Theatres of Independence, 1956–1970

Abstract

Morocco was the first nation in the Maghreb to free itself from colonial domination. Under the leadership of King Mohammed V, Morocco became nominally independent of France at the beginning of 1956 and officially independent on 2 March. These developments in Morocco were echoed soon after in Tunisia, bringing to a successful conclusion the process of gradual withdrawal initiated by French President Pierre Mendes France several years before. Tunisian independence was proclaimed on 20 March 1956, with Habib Bourguiba designated both as president of the “National Constituent Assembly”, and Prime Minister. On 25 July 1957, the Republic was declared, abolishing henceforth the monarchy and empowering Bourguiba as President of the Republic. While strengthening the independence of the country and setting in motion the long process of development, during 1956–64 Bourguiba established the institutions and legislation which made Tunisia an emerging modern nation. Algerian independence was unhappily not so easily managed, Algeria being considered by many, both there and in France, not as a colony but as an integral part of France. Only after a long, bitter, and bloody conflict, lasting from 1954 until 1962, was Algeria able to join its neighbors Morocco and Tunisia as a fully independent state.