Timeline Thursday 5 July 1962

Events on Thursday 5 July 1962 1

• 1962 Algeria gains independence from France End of the Algerian War after 132 years of French rule A referendum on July 1, 1962 saw Algerians vote overwhelmingly for independence following the Évian Accords signed in March. France formally recognized Algerian sovereignty, ending the eight-year Algerian War that had killed hundreds of thousands. Ahmed Ben Bella became the country's first president later that year.