HISTORY OF ALGERIA

Revolts of the Aurès

The first Revolt in the Aurès 1858-1859, led by Sidi Saddok Bel Hadj Masmoudi, left only few traces, but was severely repressed (destruction of Ghoufi). In 1859 Si Sadok had preached the holy war, but he was obliged to surrender. In June 1865, Emperor Napoleon III visited the cities of Biskra, Batna and Lambese.

At the beginning of 1871, the Henanchas revolt took place. On January 18, 1871, when the French Minister of War gave the order to send more Algerian Spahis (a traditional cavalry corps of the Dey of Algiers) regiments to the Prussian front, only the contingents of Souk Ahras and the Moudjbeur region remained.

The latter refusing to leave, a first collision killed a French brigadier. Three days later, the insurrection began and some preached the holy war and the independence of the country. Several tribes of Aurès gathered around Ahmed Salah ben Resqui Sheikh of Hnenechas and carried out several raids on Souk Ahras.

Upon the arrival of French reinforcements, a battle took place at Ain Sennour. Lacking ammunition and numbers, the Algerians could not resist. They were tried, sentenced to death or expelled. The city of Batna was besieged and repressed. following the revolt. This insurgency reverberated throughout the country and several revolts broke out during the year 1871.

In that year of 1871, at the call of El Mokrani and Sheikh Aheddad of the Rahmaniya of Kabylie (Bejaia).

The Aurès resistance of 1879 was triggered under the leadership of Sheikh Mohamed Ben Abderrahmane on the one hand and Med Ameziane, of the brotherhood of SI-Sadok, on the other. After the arrest of Mohamed ben Abderrahmane ben Djarallah, his disciples gave the signal for a general uprising.