Ali Kafi

Ali Kafi joined the FLN in 1954 at the start of the Algerian War of Independence. He became a militant and political organizer, working in the wilaya (military district) system and rising through the ranks of the revolutionary movement.

After independence, Kafi served as Algeria's ambassador to several countries, including Syria, Lebanon, and Libya, from the 1960s to the 1980s. His diplomatic work focused on strengthening ties with Arab and African nations and supporting anti-colonial movements.

Following the assassination of Mohamed Boudiaf, Kafi was appointed President of the High State Council (HCE) on July 2, 1992, becoming Algeria's de facto head of state. He led the collective presidency during the early years of the Algerian Civil War, overseeing the military's crackdown on Islamist insurgents.

As HCE president, Kafi supported the military's decision to cancel the second round of the 1991 legislative elections, which the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) was poised to win. This action triggered the Algerian Civil War, leading to a decade of violence between the state and Islamist groups.

Kafi stepped down as President of the HCE on January 30, 1994, as the council was dissolved and replaced by a single president, Liamine Z