Rapace
Moderator
De Gaulle decided to put an end to the war in Algeria when he realised that no political solution could be achieved, in spite of a clear victory, on the field, after the large "search and destroy" operations realised under Gen Challe command in 1959. He tried to find a so-called "troisième voie" (literally third way), in between plain independence and the status quo, that is granting some form of autonomy to Algeria and improving the lot of the Muslims, but keeping it in the sphere of French influence, but that never worked for reasons that would be too long to detail here.
At some point, he considered Algeria had become more a liability than an asset and the price to pay to maintain it as a French territory was too high, from an economic and political (both internally and internationally) standpoint. He had other objectives for France and he considered that war in Algeria was getting in his way.
Although the situations are different, the reasons why France eventually left Algeria are quite similar to those that led the US to leave Vietnam : no viable political solution in sight and too high a price to pay. End of story.
At some point, he considered Algeria had become more a liability than an asset and the price to pay to maintain it as a French territory was too high, from an economic and political (both internally and internationally) standpoint. He had other objectives for France and he considered that war in Algeria was getting in his way.
Although the situations are different, the reasons why France eventually left Algeria are quite similar to those that led the US to leave Vietnam : no viable political solution in sight and too high a price to pay. End of story.