Resistance in Mitidja 1830-1840
Introduction:
The fall of the Algerian government to the colonization forces created a state of disorder soon after that, a new path emerged, gathering all the regions in the country calling for resistance and confronting the enemy with force. From here started the Mitidja resistance and a series of other resistances.
When the French colonized the capitol on 5 July 1830, and Hussein Dey signed the surrender treaty. The armed popular resistance immediately started in the Mitidja plain due to the failure of the official resistance.
Reasons for the Resistance:
The causes of the resistance can be limited to the following:
The inhabitants of Matija rejected the French occupation when it began to threaten them, especially after the fall of the capital.
The damages caused to the inhabitants of the capital due to the colonization, where their public and private properties were confiscated, and their mosques and dignity were profaned.
The attempt of the French army to expand beyond Algiers towards the Mitidja plain was rich with agricultural and animal wealth.
The Phases:
The resistance in Midtija went through several stages, during which the inhabitants faced the colonial forces in fierce battles, to which all groups of the people participated, after the call of the leader of the Mitidja regions to organize the efforts to resist the French and prevent them from expanding within the country's territory. The most famous leaders during this First phase were: Cheikh El-Hadj Sidi Saadi, the famous Bouaara, Mohammed Ben Zamoum.
The first confrontations started when the French forces led by general De Bourmont launched a campaign in Blida on 23 July 1830 to dismantle the blockade of the colonial army in Algiers by Mitidja's inhabitants. However, the fighters defeated the army of De Bermont and failed the first French attempt to occupy the city of Blida. French crackdowns on strategic areas continued in the plains of Mitidja like Blida, Kolea, and Souk Ali, using intimidation and humiliation tools. Such as the Blida massacre, where many of Blida's citizens died, which was committed against them by General Clauzel, and the El-Ouffia massacre by General Duke Rofegeux (René Savary). Despite these brutal tactics and repeated military campaigns, it was only after the battle of Oued El Alleug that the French could assume control of the Mitidja plain.
