Born in Relizane to an educated family, Boumendjel was educated at the Duveyrier college in Blida, where he met with other future figures of the Algerian revolution, such as Abane Ramdane, Benyoucef Benkhedda and Saad Dahlab.
After independence, an army-based coalition composed of Ahmed Ben Bella, Mohamed Khider, Boumédiène and others attempted to seize power, as did a rival GPRA-centered group headed by Krim Belkacem, Benyoucef Benkhedda, and others.