Algerian People's Party

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The Algerian People's Party (French, Parti du Peuple Algerien, PPA), was a successor organization of the North African Star (Étoile Nord-Africaine), led by veteran Algerian nationalist Messali Hadj. It was formed in 1937 with assistance from the French Communist Party (Parti Communiste Français, PCF) but always more nationalist than marxist in its ideology. Despite using peaceful methods of protest, group was banned by French colonial authorities in Algeria.

After being banned, the PPA on Messali's directions created the Special Organization (Organisation Spéciale) to conduct clandestine activities and prepare for militant struggle; however, by the time this nebulous group had converted itself into the National Liberation Front (Front de la Libération Nationale, FLN) and launched the Algerian War of Independence in 1954, Messali Hadj had lost control of the movement. His own resistance group, a second PPA successor by the name of the Algerian National Movement (Mouvement National Algérien, MNA) was marginalized during the eight years of war, and attacked and destroyed by the FLN both in Algeria and during the "café wars" in France.