Algerian Radio
Participants in a special program on Radio Channel 1 dedicated to the late former President and mujahid Liamine Zeroual affirmed that by bidding farewell to the sixth President of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, the nation has lost a revolutionary statesman who dedicated his life to serving the homeland.
Discussing the late president's life, Dr. Mohamed Cherif Deroui stated that Liamine Zeroual belonged to a generation that fought for the nation and helped forge an Algerian mindset where national sovereignty is viewed as an absolute red line. He noted that Zeroual was among the loyal men who seamlessly combined military and political roles. His mujahid mindset was shaped by his interactions with fellow freedom fighters and martyrs, instilling in him principles and values that made his motives purely patriotic.
Deroui explained that one of the defining features of Zeroual’s patriotic journey was his early involvement in the Liberation Revolution alongside his peers. For these young men, reclaiming national sovereignty was a crucial dream, one they finally achieved after immense patience and hardship. Deroui pointed out that whenever the late President spoke of national sovereignty during his tenure, he firmly underlined it as a non-negotiable principle, proving it was a deeply ingrained practical belief, not merely a theoretical or intellectual concept.
Deroui also highlighted the immense debt of gratitude Algeria owes the late Zeroual for his leadership during the 1990s. He assumed the highest office following a long, distinguished career of service. This included commanding the Cherchell Military Academy—where the nation's finest cadres graduated under his supervision—as well as commanding several military regions. He subsequently served as Commander of the Land Forces, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Chief of Staff of the People's National Army, in addition to completing a stint as a diplomat.
He pointed out that taking the helm of the country during a severe crisis—marked by heavy debt to international banks, a period of violence, international isolation, and harsh social conditions—compelled him to navigate these challenges with extraordinary precision and wisdom. He fulfilled his presidential duties with the utmost dedication. "The most accurate way to describe the late Zeroual is as a righteous citizen, exactly as free Algeria and its proud people wished him to be," Deroui said.
For his part, Dr. Akrout Khemili, Head of the History Department at the University of Algiers, stated that Liamine Zeroual was a pure patriot whose rich, diverse, and exemplary journey makes him one of the finest civil and military leaders Algeria has ever produced.
The late president's life spanned three distinct phases. The first was his youth as a mujahid during the Algerian Revolution. The second was the struggle to build the newly independent Algerian state; during this time, he contributed to the establishment and cohesion of the People's National Army, underwent diverse military training in the Middle East and Russia, and assumed numerous leadership positions.
The third phase was the highly sensitive period Algeria endured in the 1990s. He threw his entire being into the battle to save the state from collapse, playing a pivotal role in preserving national unity and restoring harmony. It was an era that demanded a leader with a strategic mind, immense patience, and composure. Zeroual proved to be exactly the right man for the job, fighting the battle with integrity and honor until his ultimate retirement from public life.
