Benyoucef Benkhedda

Later political career A crisis emerged later that month between the provisional government and Ahmed Ben Bella, supported by the 'Frontier Army' and Ben Khedda was forced to stand down to avoid a "fratricidal bloodbath". In 1976 he, with three leaders of the war of liberation (Ferhat Abbas, Hocine Lahouel, Kheir-Eddine) signed a proclamation which set about to create a constitutional national assembly, elected by universal suffrage to create a national charter (granted next year). The four signatories were placed under house arrest and had their property seized. He was released in 1979.

He wrote probably the most authoritative and accurate book about the twentieth century genesis of the Algerian movement for independence. "Les Origines du 1er Novembre 1954", Editions Dahlab, 1989.

Under the government of Chadli Bendjedid which claimed to be a multi-party system, also in 1989 he created 'El Oumma' with Abderahmane Kiouane and other friends from the liberation war. 'El Oumma' dissolved, unsuccessful, in 1997. At the same time he founded the 'Tadhamoune' with Sheikh Ahmed Sahnoune with the aim of denouncing the state because of serious human rights violations after the military coup of January 1992.

Later life and popular recognition He lived a quiet life for the rest of his days, running a pharmacy in Hydra, Algiers. After a long illness, Benyoucef Benkhedda died in his home in Algiers on February 4, 2003. A large crowd turned out for his funeral and he was buried at Sidi Yahia cemetery next to long-time companion Saad Dahlab. The University of Algiers was later named in his honour. He had three sons.