Resistance of Beni-Chougrane 1914
Introduction:
The uprising of the inhabitants of Beni-Chougrane, Mascara 1914 is one of the biggest of the 20th century's beginning. In terms of its characteristics and reasons for its outbreak. On the other hand, it is a continuum of the series of resistances, uprisings, and revolutions witnessed around Algeria, particularly in the west.
Reasons for the Beni-Chougrane’s Resistance:
Like all the Algerian regions, Beni-Chougrane suffered from the French policies that aimed at encouraging European settlement and the confiscation of properties of the Algerians individually and in tribes. Imposing arbitrary laws and unjust taxes on the citizens. The French authorities intentionally targeted this area, considering it was the birthplace of Emir Abdelkader’s resistance and a constantly unstable epicenter that threatened the French existence at all times.
This mission worsened after the appleylication of the “ Sénatus law” in 1863 and “ Warnier law ” where thousands of Algerian families were displaced to arid and mountainous regions, and the fertile lands were used to cultivate vineyards. The Algerian farmers became unemployed or low-income employees after losing their means of life.
Moreover, the penalties and fines that have been stated in the arbitrary forestry act, prevented the Algerians from exploiting the forestry resources as they used to before the colonization. The Indegénat law was known for its arbitrariness and oppression of the inhabitants. These coercive decisions and penalties were issued by administrative employees and security agents who were given these broad repressive authorities, so they spread corruption in the area. According to French resources, Mascara was ranked in the first place in the Province of Oran in terms of the number of penalties recorded in 1913-1914.
The inhabitants of Beni-CHougrane in Mascara grew a strong feeling of grudge and hatred towards French colonialism because of those actions, and their spirit of resistance and rebellion emerged again, which never from the time of Emir Abdelkader’s valiant resistance.
There is no doubt that the direct reason for this uprising was the announcement of the conscription law for the Algerians and its widespread launch. The Algerian’s reactions to the law of 3 February 1912 took many forms like sending delegates, writing petitions, filing complaints, and the immigration to the Islamic countries.
3.The Phases of the Resistance:
In the Algerian west, a delegation representing the Oranie sector traveled to Paris to submit the claims of the western residents opposing the compulsory recruitment law. The citizens of Saida, Sebdou, and Ghazaouet used the method of petitions and complaints to express their dissatisfaction and opposition to the colonizer’s policies. In Tlemcen, dozens of families preferred to immigrate out of the country, heading to the middle east to join the thousands of Algerian families in Hijaz and Levant.
After the failure of the peaceful methods in achieving the Algerians demands, they took a new path of disobedience and rebellion as a response to the colonial authorities' continued effective application of the recruitment law. Especially after the order to expedite the recruitment of the Algerian youth in 1914. After the start of the first world war the french administration doubled the recruitment process, affecting around 4000 young men by the end of August 1914 who went through from initial military training before being sent to the European fighting fronts.
During these events in Mascara, a rumor spread that France would call the young and cancel compensation as well as resort to the sick and elderly men if necessary and the situation against Germany worsened.
All these reasons prompted the young man in Ouled Sidi Dahou and the nearby villages to refuse to comply with French administration orders to register on recruitment lists late in the year. The colonial authorities then resorted to threats and bargaining, arresting village elders to force young people to bow down. However, this work was like putting gunpowder on fire, and the situation exploded and spread to the whole area.
Despite France's mobilization of large military forces, the population continued to refuse to extradite their children. Chaos and clashes spread in the city of “Mohammadia” in October 1914 resulting in several deaths and injuries to both parties. The uprisers attacked the colon farms, vandalized them, set fire to all symbols of the colonial administration, and attacked the administration's agents in retaliation for their role in counting recruitable youth.
After these incidents, repression by military forces came from all over the Algerian West, and the area of Beni-chougran was besieged from 5 to 20 October 1914, during which several villages were burned and their inhabitants displaced, such as the Farakik village. The population had tried to negotiate with the French army, but they arrested the delegation and all suspects, after several weeks of repression and persecution, the uprising ended with the arrest of hundreds of youth and men in the region, headed by rebel and protest leaders. Detainees were brought before the special French courts and handed down various sentences, ranging from execution to temporary imprisonment. The penalties were the confiscation of property belonging to several tribes in the Beni-chougran area and the imposition of heavy fines on them, as well as the removal of many superiors from office. The uprising of Beni-chougran extended to all areas of Mascara, even after the end of the first insurgency, and it continued in 1915 less violently, before Tebassa and the Souk Ahras witnessed similar actions in the same year. The number of young people fleeing the French army has increased despite all French repressive measures to curb this phenomenon.
