Rabah Zerrari (Commandant Azzedine)

Rabah Zerrari, revered under his nom-de-guerre Commandant Azzedine, was one of the most brilliant and fearless tactical commanders of the ALN. Operating in the mountains of Wilaya 4, his legendary commando unit executed daring raids that shattered colonial military cordons.

In early 1962, following the Evian Accords, the GPRA appointed Azzedine commander of the Autonomous Zone of Algiers. Facing the murderous scorched-earth terror campaign of the colonial OAS (Secret Armed Organization), he demonstrated supreme restraint and strategic discipline, protecting Algerian civilian populations and guaranteeing the historic July 1962 independence celebrations.