Hocine Aït Ahmed 1926-2015

The Socialist International deeply regrets the passing of Hocine Aït Ahmed, founder and former leader of the Socialist Forces Front, FFS, of Algeria.

Instrumental in Algeria’s war for independence, Aït Ahmed was one of the original founders of the National Liberation Front, FLN, which led the struggle for liberation. After the war, in September 1963, Ait Ahmed left the FLN and formed his own political party, the FFS, which joined the Socialist International in 1992. He led the party until 2013, only stepping down due to ill health. Active since his school days, Hocine Ait Ahmed dedicated his life, including time spent under arrest and in exile, in pursuit of his political objectives. With great respect, our International honours his memory and pays tribute to his life-long struggle for peace, democracy and human rights. 

Having passed away in Switzerland, the remains of Hocine Aït Ahmed were received with honour by the government upon arrival in Algeria and eight days of national mourning were declared. In accordance with his wishes, Aït Ahmed was laid to rest in his home village of Aït Yahya in the Kabylia region of Algeria, attended by tens of thousands of his fellow citizens. He is survived by his wife, daughter and two sons, to whom we convey our sincere condolences.