ALGIERS – Sunday, 10 December 2023 (APS) – President of the Republic Abdelmadjid Tebboune sent on Sunday a message marking the commemoration of the 63rd anniversary of the 11 December 1960 demonstrations, as translated by APS:

 

“In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful,

Prayer and peace be upon his Messenger,

My fellow citizens,

We are commemorating the 63rd anniversary of the demonstrations of 11 December 1960, at a time when our country is facing many challenges with a sincere and strong will, following the completion of the institutional system. We are taking up these challenges as the State continues to deploy its efforts to build an efficient and competitive economy, while improving social life and the quality of citizen’s lives.

To do so, exceptional efforts have been made in the process of building the new Algeria in order to make up for the difficult situations that have arisen and which society has been experiencing, while meeting the aspirations of the brave Algerian people, proud of their belonging to the land of the Shuhadas and faithful to the November message and to the sacrifices of generations whose glory is remembered in history. A glory crowned by the feats of the militants and the Mujahidin, fuelled, with the outbreak of 1st November 1954, by their faith in victory over colonialism and its war machine armed with destructive weapons, which excelled in the scorched earth policy in its most brutal forms.

Nevertheless, the free and resilient revolutionaries who showed resistance in the battlefields out of which they came, either victorious or martyred, were convinced that the will to live was truly stronger.

The demonstrations of 11 December 1960 were a sincere expression of that will, at a time when the Glorious Revolution was on the verge of victory, when the voices of freedom and independence were being raised in every nook and cranny of the cities, calling for national independence.

Nevertheless, the free and resilient revolutionaries who showed resistance in the battlefields out of which they came, either victorious or martyred, were convinced that the will to live was truly stronger.

The demonstrations of 11 December 1960 were a sincere expression of that will, at a time when the Glorious Revolution was on the verge of victory, when the voices of freedom and independence were being raised in every nook and cranny of the cities, calling for national independence.

Fellow citizens,

As we recall the grandiose historic images of the 11 December 1960 demonstrations, we bow our heads before the sacrifices of the Algerian people in this eternal pause from which we draw determination and self-denial, following in the footsteps of the Shuhadas and Mujahidin, with a view to pursuing, with the efforts of each and every one of us, the development of the country. We are committed to continuing these efforts, uninterrupted by the challenges of resistance to change, until we have achieved the objectives we are committed to and which we have set as priorities, including the new economy recovery strategy, the improvement of living standards and purchasing power, the guarantee of conditions for a dignified life, and the preservation of Algeria’s place and role at regional and international level.

Thanks to our valiant people’s shared awareness of the challenges we face and the noble national objectives we have set ourselves, we have made significant progress that has enabled our country to open up broad prospects for sustainable development, to enshrine the spirit of citizenship and decent living, and to become a pivotal and reliable partner highly esteemed for its sincere and essential contributions to the achievement of peace and stability in the region and throughout the world.

Lastly, I would like to pay tribute, with you on this memorable historic occasion, to the memory of our valiant Shuhadas, and to send my greetings to all my Mujahid sisters and brothers, praying that Allah will grant them long life, health and well-being.

Long live Algeria.

Glory to our valiant martyrs.

May the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you.”