1.      Introduction:

   Resistance of Azaatcha is a pioneering resistance despite its short duration. The confrontation lasted more than four months, from 16th July to 26th November 1849.

2.                Causes of Zaatcha Resistance:

    This Resistance shares with other popular resistances a variety of motivations while also varying in others:

- The Algerian people's absolute rejection of the French occupation.

The fall of the constitutional monarchy after the coup d 'état created by the French Revolution in 1848, the establishment of the Second French Republic, and its repercussions on the political situation in Algeria; including the dismissal of the Governor-General, Duke Domal, the son of King Louis Philip, and replacing him with  General Caviniac on March 03, 1848. These events and their spread in the Ziban region have indirectly helped raise the spirits of the revolutionaries in the region, notably Sheikh Bouziane, who tried to exploit France's turbulent conditions to declare jihad.

- The concern of the colonial forces stationed in the province of Constantine to suppress other Intifadas in various parts of the country, allowing Sheikh Bouziane to announce the jihad, taking advantage of the small number of French forces stationed in the centers of Batna and Biskra and the absence of the military commander "St. Germain" from the district of Biskra to relieve the burden on the resisters here and there, through distracting the colonial forces.

- Insisting on continuing jihad as an extension of the revolution led by Emir Abdelkader, considering Sheikh Bouziane was one of his associates.

- Higher taxes on palms from March 1849 from 0.25 F to 0.40 F per palm

- Reversing the principle of exemption of associates from taxes, resulting in the widening of the complaint cycle . Sheikh Bouziane knew how to frame this resentment against the occupying forces, Where he engaged in active contacts with tribal and clan chiefs to prepare the necessary conditions for the declaration of jihad. Such as the collection of money, the purchase of weapons, the storage of supplies... etc. This drew the attention of the French administration agents. Lieutenant Seroka, the Arab Office's deputy, moved diligently towards Zaatcha to arrest Sheikh Bouziane. He took with him the sheikh Ibn El-Mihoub of Tolga city and some knights and proceeded to Zaatcha. However, they failed to capture him due to the rejection his followers showed. "Seroka"  returned to Biskra. He presented a detailed report to the leadership stating that all residents of the Ziban Oasis were wrapped around Sheikh Bouziane. And that the jihad had been announced from the minarets of the Oasis. To look closely at the situation, the head of the Arab Bureau, Officer De Bosquet, visited Zaatsha, asking the residents to hand over Sheikh Bouzine, but they refused and replied: "... we refuse to hand over to you what you ask and we will fight till the last men and women for him..." right there De Bosquet was convinced that the spirit of rebellion spread in the whole area.

3.                 Its Phases:

  The Zaatcha resistance has passed through three fundamental phases: the force phase, the siege phase, and the retreat phase.

A.                The Force phase:

   The first phase began with the arrival of the French in Zaatcha on 16 July 1849 under Colonel Carposia's command, where the siege of the oases was tightened, stifling and extinguishing the revolution in its infancy; and taking down their commander, Sheikh Bouziane. But he was taken aback by the resilience of the revolutionaries, who showered French forces with bullets that wiped out 31 French soldiers and wounded at least 117.  After hours of fighting Carposia had to withdraw its troops under the blows of the Mujahedin of Ouled Nail, Bou Saada, and M'sila who joined their Brothers in Zaatcha. This victory gave moral and material support to the revolutionaries and further fuelled resistance among the inhabitants of the region. Sheikh Al-Marabat Sidi Abd Al-Hafeez, the Rahmanian leader, declared jihad, and the residents of the Ziban oasis appealed for the liberation of the city of Biskra, clashing with French forces under the command St. Germain, commander of the district of Biskra, There happened the battle of Seriana at the dawn of September 1849. Although the French commander St. Germain was killed, the French army managed to tighten the siege, forcing Sidi Abdel Hafeez to withdraw the remainder of his supporters. The French took advantage of this victory and insisted on retaliation against the residents of the oasis of Zaatcha and decided to postpone the matter until the beginning of autumn. General Herbion, then Governor of Constantine Province, personally led the siege after Colonel Carposia was appointed Colonel San Germain's successor.

B.     The Siege phase:

   General Herbion began to assemble his estimated forces of (4493) soldiers in Kudia Al-Maida near the city of Zaatcha on 07 October 1849 in the morning, then occupied the Marabout near the Kudia and controlled the crossroads leading to the oasis of Zaatcha, especially the link between Tulga and Zaatcha, to prevent the arrival of any supplies, The artillery was then ordered to bomb the fences to make a dent in them, but the deadly resistance forced the French forces to retreat after they lost 35 soldiers, including one officer and 147 wounded. The French were then able by artillery to occupy the Marabout and raise the flag from on its minaret. Nevertheless, Sheikh Bouziane continued to sharpen the Mujahideen and sent his hidden messages to the Bou Saada tribes and Ouled Nail asking them for help. However, Sheikh Bouziane was able to escape from this blockade and send messengers to different places.

C.   Regression and extermination:

   General Herbion demanded survival from the Central Colonial Administration in Algeria. Orders were issued for military lines to move towards Zaatcha from Constantine, Batna, Bou Saada, Skikda, and Annaba, encouraging those trapped to return the attack on 26 November 1849 with 8,000 soldiers led by Officer Baral and Colonel Canrobar and Lafaraud and colonel Daumental. Plus the military hardware. While the rest of the forces hit a stranglehold on the oasis to prevent any help coming from other areas.

Orders were given to exterminate the oasis' inhabitants, including children, women, and the elderly, cut down palm trees, and burn down houses; Despite this, the inhabitants withstood and clashed with the French soldier with weapons in the driveways until they fell off the last, about 9 a.m., there were many wounded, the house of Sheikh Bouziane was blown up and he passed away there. General Herbion ordered to cut the head of Sheikh Bouziane and his son Sheikh El-Hadj Moussa El-Darkawi and hang them in one of  Biskra's gates. 

4.  Results Of the Resistance:

The Zaatcha resistance ended in heavy losses. The entire oasis was ravaged, with the French practicing the most heinous forms of torture and shameful crimes humanity against humanity. By decapitating and attaching human beings to the doors or to rifle daggers to spite the rebels, The French lost 10 officers of different ranks, 165 soldiers were killed and 790 were injured of varying severity. In the ranks of French sources mentioned, 800 bodies and an unspecified number were found in the rubble, and palm trees were cut off.

The Zaatcha resistance has provoked religious and national solidarity and the enemy was surprised by the population's insistence on failing its schemes.

The occupation of the city of Bou Saada, because it carried out an Intifada under the leadership of Muhammad Ali Ben-Shabbara, a religious leader who called for jihad during the Zaatcha resistance and sent help to Sheikh Bouziane.

The widening of the circle of reprisals by burning a Nara oasis located on the Oued Abdi in Aures, which met the same fate as Zaatcha on 05 January 1850 by Colonel Caroyer; Having come to the village with the strength of three army teams, he was allowed to kill, demolish and burn down the village.