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.
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During World War II, he joined the Mufti to work with the German Luftwaffe, hoping that Hitler's defeat of France would lead to the liberation of Algeria and other French colonies.
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He lost his military positions in 1960, as Krim's fortunes declined, and had to make do with mainly symbolic posts in the GPRA government-in-exile.