The 1956 fundraising campaign held on “Algeria Day” collected 4,200,000 Saudi riyals, and King Saud issued a royal decree granting Algeria an additional £250,000. It became customary in Saudi Arabia to organize annual fundraising events for Algeria under the King’s patronage, to the extent that Saudi assistance to the Algerian revolutionaries reached unprecedented levels.
The military factories in Al‑Kharj—established during the reign of King Abdulaziz under the supervision of French experts from the Manurhin Company—were producing ammunition. During King Saud’s reign, shipments of ammunition were transported from Al‑Kharj to Jeddah, then by sea to Safaga in Egypt, and from there carried by camel caravans across the Sahara Desert, in cooperation with Egypt, to supply the Algerian mujahideen. When the French discovered this, Manurhin experts in Al‑Kharj attempted to blow up the military factories during King Saud’s visit. Saudi intelligence uncovered the plot at the last moment, after which the French company was expelled. Saudi intelligence at the time was headed by Major General Saeed Al‑Kurdi, who supervised the ammunition transfers.
Algeria Thanks King Saud
Algeria, through its representative to the Arab League, Ahmad Tawfiq Al‑Madani, expressed its gratitude to King Saud and the Saudi people in a statement issued in Cairo on 9 Dhul‑Hijjah 1376 AH. The statement read:
“His Majesty, the sovereign of the Saudi throne, has supported the Algerian cause from the very first day our struggle began. He shares with the Algerian people this noble sentiment, and His Majesty has done—and continues to do—everything within his power for us Algerians. It will not be long, God willing, before Algeria becomes an independent nation.
“The great role His Majesty plays is not based on propaganda or newspaper claims, but on what the Algerian mujahideen witness with their own eyes and know with absolute certainty of His Majesty’s efforts to achieve Algeria’s independence and support its fighters. History will proudly record pages of glory and honor for His Majesty in this regard.”
King Saud Mediates for the Release of Algerian Leaders
King Mohammed V of Morocco invited five Algerian leaders who were abroad—Ahmed Ben Bella, Mohamed Khider, Aït Ahmed, Rabah Bitat, and Mohamed Boudiaf—to Rabat to discuss possible solutions to the revolution.
After meeting with him, they agreed to travel to Tunisia to meet its ruler, Muhammad Al‑Amin, and attempt to formulate a unified plan.
On 23 October 1956, King Mohammed V departed for Tunisia on a private plane with his entourage. The Algerian leaders boarded another aircraft, which instead landed in Algeria, where they were handed over to the French authorities, transferred to Paris, and imprisoned.
The Arab world was shaken by this act of treachery, and voices of protest rose demanding their release.
King Saud summoned the American ambassador on the 24th of the month, expressing his deep concern over the dangerous situation in Algeria. He urged the U.S. government to exert serious efforts to secure the release of the detained leaders.
A government statement issued the same day expressed the Kingdom’s position:
“Following the arrest of several Algerian leaders by the French authorities under circumstances that violate international law, His Majesty the King has ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to draw the attention of the French government to the grave consequences this arrest may have for peace. His Majesty demands their immediate release so that matters do not escalate further in Algeria or the Middle East at large. The government hopes that wisdom will prevail and that the detainees will be released as soon as possible to restore calm and pave the way for a peaceful solution.”
King Saud also sent a telegram to King Mohammed V conveying the same message.
King Saud Donates His Accession Day Expenses
On the anniversary of his accession to the throne in 1376 AH (1956), King Saud ordered the cancellation of all celebrations and directed that the funds normally spent on the occasion be sent to support Algeria.
The King Adopts the Algerian Cause at the United Nations
The government instructed its representative at the United Nations to dedicate his time and efforts to supporting the Algerian cause and defending the rights of the Algerian people. Ahmad Al‑Shuqairi was appointed to this mission.
The King Refuses to Restore Political Relations with France
After the withdrawal of French forces from Egypt, France requested the restoration of diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom agreed on the condition that France first recognize Algeria’s independence and restore the rights of its people.
Saudi Arabia continued to support Algeria with substantial financial aid until it achieved independence in 1962.
Royal Order Addressing the French Government
The General Directorate of Broadcasting, Press, and Publishing issued the following statement:
“Following the arrest of several Algerian leaders by the French authorities under circumstances contrary to international law, His Majesty the King has ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to draw the attention of the French government to the grave consequences this arrest may have for peace, and to demand the immediate release of the detainees so that matters do not escalate further in Algeria or the Middle East. The government hopes that wisdom will prevail and that the detainees will be released promptly to restore calm and achieve a peaceful solution.”
(Al‑Bilad Newspaper, Issue 2283)
A Protest Memorandum to the United Nations
Saudi Arabia continued to champion the Algerian cause in international forums.
Sheikh Asad Al‑Faqih, the Kingdom’s permanent representative to the United Nations, stated in a press conference that the Security Council was the competent body to order a ceasefire in Algeria. The Saudi delegation submitted a memorandum to the UN describing the intensifying French military operations, mass arrests, dissolution of political parties, suppression of the press, and forced displacement of thousands of civilians.
Prince Abdelkrim Al‑Khattabi declared that all of North Africa recognized the noble role of the “great Arab King” and deeply appreciated his support.
(Source: Sakhret Al‑Arab, February 1955)
King Saud’s Telegrams to the Rulers of Tunisia and Morocco
Radio Mecca broadcast the following:
After the treacherous arrest of the Algerian leaders by the French authorities, a wave of indignation swept across Saudi Arabia. His Majesty the King, expressing the sincere sentiments of his people, sent two telegrams—one to the Bey of Tunisia, Muhammad Al‑Munsef Al‑Amin, and the other to King Mohammed V of Morocco—condemning the French action and warning of its grave consequences for North Africa and the Middle East.
Both telegrams demanded the immediate release of the detainees and affirmed Saudi Arabia’s solidarity with Tunisia and Morocco in their efforts to resolve the crisis.
(Al‑Bilad Newspaper, Issue 2283)
The rare appeal of King Saud—may God have mercy on him—revealing the profound humanity of his rule.
A call that shows how he carried the concerns of the Arab world fifty years ago.
King Saud works to prevent bloodshed in Algeria: His Majesty’s appeal to the Algerians and to the Arab world.
Printed at Al‑Naqid Press – Damascus
Issue No. 6, Monday, 10 September 1962
11 Rabi‘ al‑Thani 1382 AH
(A public appeal issued by His Majesty King Saud, King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, addressed to the Algerians and to the Arab world):
“The decisive victory achieved by struggling Algeria—after seven long years of true struggle and jihad for independence and for the creation of a free and sovereign Algeria—now stands on the brink of being lost amid the current disputes among Algerian leaders, at a time when the Arab world has not yet finished celebrating this great triumph. The severe divergence of views in Algeria today threatens to destroy the noble and lofty meanings of sacrifice, struggle, and the great principles that the Algerian Revolution presented to the entire world. It also threatens to undermine the exemplary model the revolution offered to other liberation movements striving for freedom and emancipation from colonialism.
Preserving the fruits of this long struggle and bitter sacrifice is not a responsibility borne by the Algerians alone; it is a matter that concerns the whole world, and especially the Islamic world and the Arab world.
As we receive news of the outbreak of civil war in Algeria, we cannot but mobilize all our capabilities and resources to work earnestly, sincerely, and impartially to extinguish this destructive strife and to bring closer the viewpoints of the disputing brothers. In this regard, we call upon the Algerians themselves—who have tasted the bitterness of pain, the severity of suffering, and the heat of battle—to let reason and wisdom prevail in this critical moment, so that they may safeguard the achievements of their valiant revolution, regardless of the personal sacrifices involved, for they are the ones who sacrificed everything for this noble cause.
We must also remind our Algerian brothers that the enemy still lies in wait for them, watching for any opportunity. It is only fitting that the heroes who presented the world with the finest examples of courage and struggle should now present new examples of sacrifice, wisdom, and self‑restraint—so that the revolution may achieve its blessed outcomes.
We also call upon all Arab states—governments, peoples, and individuals—to exert every possible effort and employ all available means to extinguish the flames of discord, reconcile differing viewpoints, and halt the civil war now raging in Algeria, a war that is sanctioned neither by religion, nor by reason, nor by wisdom.
In pursuit of these aims, we have decided to dispatch a special mission headed by our Minister of Defense to undertake a serious and effective effort to contact the responsible authorities in Algeria and work with them to prevent bloodshed, protect lives, preserve the gains of the blessed revolution, and unite the hearts of Algeria’s sons upon goodness and prosperity.
We have also called upon the Arab League to convene an extraordinary emergency session to study the necessary means to overcome this grave situation. At the same time, we have requested the heads of Arab states to do everything within their power—collectively and individually—to extinguish the flames of this strife.
We ask Almighty God to grant success to these efforts and to guide the Algerians back to the path of truth, wisdom, and sound judgment. God is the source of success.”
Transmitted by: Al‑Mujalli
December 12, 2012