Youcef Zighoud

Youcef Zighoud : (in Arabic : يوسف زيغود February 18, 1921 - September 25, 1956) was an Algerian FLN party fighter during the Algerian War. In August 20 1955, he planned a resistance and struggle against the French occupation in Philippeville (currently called Skikda) and surroundings, which led 123 French soldiers to death. That resistance led to harsh crackdown and repression that caused (officially) 1,239 dead in the Algerian side, and (unofficially) 12,000 according to the FLN party. Zighoud, from whom the town of Zighoud Youcef takes its name, was killed in Sidi Mezghiche during a clash with the French Army.

Biography
Zighoud attended the Quranic school after leaving a French primary school. After obtaining the certificate of primary education in French, he had to leave school because of the limitations imposed by the French authorities to Muslim children.

At the age of 17, Zighoud joined the Algerian People Party (PPA), becoming a local official in Smendou in 1938. After being elected in the Movement of Triumph of Democratic Liberties (MTLD) in 1947, he took part of the Special Organization (OS), which was called to prepare all essential requirements to the Armed Struggle, after the total fail of the Pacific way. Arrested in 1950 by French Colonial Police after discovering the (OS), he was sued and thrown in jail in Annaba from which he escaped and joined outlaw way. He also engaged the military action of Unity and Working Revolutionary Committee (CRUA) since its creation.

On the November 1, 1954 he was with Didouche Mourad, North Constantine area responsible that became Wilaya II of Army of National Liberation (ALN). Youcef Zighoud took part with Mourad on January 18th 1955, of the Oued Boukerker’s battle in which Mourad was killed. Youcef Zighoud took his place at the head of Wilaya II.

It’s in this tenure that he organized and directed the famous August 20 1955’s struggle, “the bloodbath of Constantine region” that was firmly condemned by the FLN head command. A year after, day by day on August 20 1956, he took part the Soummam congress where all organic and political structures of November’s revolution were set up.

Zighoud Youcef, who was one of the congress founders, was appointed a member of National Council of the Algerian Revolution (CNRA), and was promoted colonel of National Liberation Army (ALN); and assumed command of the "Wilaya II". Soon after, he joined again his battle station and started applying Congress decisions.

On September 25, 1956 Zighoud Youcef was killed during an explicative and organizational tour of his units by a French ambush in Sidi Mezghiche (Wilaya of Skikda) at the age of 35.