Ahmed Ben Bella was an Algerian politician who played a significant role in the struggle for Algeria's independence from French colonial rule. Born in 1916, Ben Bella joined the National Liberation Front (FLN) and became a key figure in the fight against French occupation. After Algeria gained independence in 1962, he served as the country's first president. Ben Bella's presidency was marked by efforts to establish a socialist state and promote Arab nationalism. He was eventually overthrown in a military coup in 1965 and spent years in prison before being released in 1980.