LA résistance de cheikh Amoud
Introduction:
Cheikh Amoud’s resistance is another episode of jihad declared by Algerians against the French colonization of Algeria in 1830. This resistance was the second phase of the jihad announced by the Tuareg people in 1881; toward the french attempts of incursion in the Algerian Sahara, this blocked the expansion in the south for a reasonable amount of time.
The reasons behind cheikh Amoud’s resistance:
After French colonial authorities accomplished the total expansion in north Algeria, they set their eyes on the great Sahara to control its commerce and wealth. And lastly, to link Algeria and the other French colonies in West Africa.
The first step to achieve this goal was to send expeditions that claimed to be for exploration and scientific research, while it was for reconnaissance of wells, terrains, and the tribes in preparation for the military invasion.
These attempts faced rejection and violent resistance in the Hoggar and Tassili that lasted around half a century and caused significant losses to the french; it forced them to retreat and delayed the date of their occupation of the Sahara.
The Phases of Cheikh Amoud’s Resistance:
The first battle Cheikh Amoud had against French colonialism was the attack on the military expedition led by colonel Flatters, destroying it in Oued Teen Tarabeen on 16 February 1881.The most significant result of this attack was delaying the progress of the French Army into the desert for 20 years, showing the care and will of the Saharan tribes to defend their regions and confront the foreign invasion. Pushing the French military leaders to reconsider their strategies by focusing on the Oases and the cities located on the commercial road before diving into the depth of the Sahara. From this, France invaded Ain Saleh and Ain Sahra in 1900 by following the new plan.
Cheikh Amoud also participated in the battle of Teet near Tamanrasset on 7 May 1902. It ended with the agreement of the Amenukal ( Tuareg chief) Musa Ag Amastan; to sign a treaty with the French in Ain Saleh on 21 January 1904, which stated that the Amenukal acknowledged the french colonization in the Sahara and pledge to not attack them and work under their authority.
Cheikh Amoud refused to acknowledge the terms of this agreement; he confirmed his intention to continue jihad against the French. He stood up to them in 1908 when they tried to take over the hometown city of Djanet, forcing them to retreat. They tried again in the next year, due to their number and military superiority to enter and control the city. The fall of Djanet led to Cheikh Amoud's withdrawal from the region and enrolment of Senussians in Libya to help them in their jihad against Italians.
However, Sheikh Amud returned to the Tassili in 1913 to lead the jihad against the French army and its commander, General Breen. The colonial authorities resorted to many ways to try to restore stability and security in the Sahara, but it was all in vain; so It made an offer of reconciliation to Sheikh Amoud, but the leader of the Tuareg tribes' resistance rejected any agreement with the enemy, preferring to continue the fight and jihad supported by the inhabitants of the Hoggar and Tassili areas. Cheikh Amoud led several battles against French forces between 1913 and 1923, the last stage of his jihad in Algeria. One of the most famous battles was the Battle of Djanet in 1918 and the Battle of Escao in 1920. In the face of the continuing expansion of the heavily armed French army, Cheikh Amoud Ben Mokhtar was forced to leave the area, returning to the Fezzan region of Libya in 1923 to settle alongside Libyan mujahideen until he passed away in 1928.
