Background
Taking the lead from his mother, who was a leader in the Algerian anti-French resistance movement, Guellal joined the government in exile.
Taking the lead from his mother, who was a leader in the Algerian anti-French resistance movement, Guellal joined the government in exile.
Guellal attended university at Aix-en-Provence in southern France, graduating in 1956.
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, District of Columbia, as the new country"s first Ambassador to the United States.
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.
Guellal and Fox led an active social life, frequenting academic meetings and circulating among Washington"s social and intellectual elite. His social secretary was Sally Quinn.
After his diplomatic career, he served as representative of Algeria"s national oil company Sonatrach. Ambassador Cherif Guellal died of leukemia in Algeria on April 7, 2009.
He was buried at the El Alia Cemetery.
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.