Cherif Guellal

Who was Cherif Guellal?

Cherif Guellal was an Algerian businessman and diplomat who fought in the Algerian independence movement.

Guellal attended university at Aix-en-Provence in southern France, graduating in 1956. Taking the lead from his mother, who was a leader in the Algerian anti-French resistance movement, Guellal joined the government in exile. He worked to build support for the movement, mainly from India.

He served as a key aide to the resistance leader Ahmed Ben Bella, who became the first president of post-colonial Algeria. He was sent to Washington, D.C., as the new country's first Ambassador to the United States. He outlasted his mentor, remaining in his post following the military coup that removed Ben Bella from power and installed Houari Boumedienne, the former National Liberation Front military chief, in his place.

In Washington, he successfully lobbied for the repeal of racially restrictive covenants on his ambassadorial residence, one impetus for the later, widespread repeal of such covenants.

Eventually, he took up with Yolande Fox, who was Miss America in 1951 and later an opera singer.