Born in 1928 in Algiers, he became a key figure in the Algerian War of Independence. Initially working as a baker, he joined the National Liberation Front (FLN) and rose to prominence as a leader in the Battle of Algiers. His experiences during the war were captured in his memoirs, which later served as the basis for the influential film "The Battle of Algiers," in which he also acted. He continued to be an important cultural and political figure in post-independence Algeria.