The town of Draâ El Mizan in Algeria's Tizi Ouzou province recently celebrated the 65th anniversary of the country's liberation war. The festivities, organized by the local APC and kasma des Moudjahidine, began with a traditional roundtable discussion on the war of national liberation. The event featured poignant testimonies from numerous moudjahidine who shared their experiences during the night of October 31 to November 1, 1954.
On the morning of the following day, a gathering was held in front of the town hall, attended by local authorities, civilians, and military personnel. The attendees then marched to the city center's martyrs' monument, where a minute of silence was observed in memory of the martyrs. A wreath of flowers was laid in front of the memorial, followed by the recitation of the Fatiha from the Quran. Several speeches highlighted the significance of this historical date and the course of the liberation war.
The second major event of the commemoration took place in the village of Sanana, where a tribute was paid to the late Moudjahid Hocine Lounnas, also known as L'Hocine Salem. Lounnas passed away on September 10, 2019, at the age of 79. His widow shared her testimony, recounting his early involvement in the resistance at just 17 years old and the torture he endured during his imprisonment in Tizi-Gheniff and Tigzirt.
Lounnas's brother also shared his story, detailing his integration into the maquis in 1958 and his involvement in a notable attack on a military truck. He was arrested in 1959 and spent months in a camp in Tigzirt before being released shortly before Algeria's independence. The family and guests then proceeded to the unveiling of Lounnas's new epitaph at the village cemetery, where a poem was read and a wreath of flowers was laid on his grave.
Lounnas's son, Slimane, reflected on his father's life, sharing stories of their close relationship and his father's experiences in the maquis and during his military service. He also mentioned his father's passion for writing and his intention to publish his writings. The imam recited the Fatiha, and the newly unveiled epitaph was revealed, detailing Lounnas's contributions to the liberation struggle and his subsequent military and civilian life.
The epitaph, written on a commemorative plaque, honors Lounnas's memory and highlights his early involvement in the resistance, his imprisonment, and his later military career. The ceremony concluded with a waâda, or prayer gathering, offered to the guests. Throughout the day, numerous testimonies were collected, sharing stories of Lounnas's heroic journey and his life.
The commemoration in Draâ El Mizan serves as a poignant reminder of Algeria's liberation war and the sacrifices made by its moudjahidine. The events honoring Hocine Lounnas and the celebration of the 65th anniversary of the war's beginning underscore the importance of preserving historical memory and recognizing the contributions of those who fought for Algeria's independence.
Key points
- Algerian town Draâ El Mizan commemorates 65th anniversary of liberation war with ceremonies and tributes to moudjahidine.
- Tribute paid to late Moudjahid Hocine Lounnas, who fought in Algeria's liberation war and endured torture and imprisonment.
- New epitaph unveiled in honor of Hocine Lounnas, detailing his contributions to Algeria's liberation struggle and his subsequent life.
