Banber Arevelagitut'yan Instituti (Jan 2019)
THE PRECONDITIONS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ABD EL-KADER’S STATE
Abstract
On November 21, 1832 Abd el-Kader ibn Muhieddine was elected Emir or Commander of the Faithful (Amir al-Mu'minin) of the military union of Arab tribes. Algerians’ struggle against France under Abd el-Kader entered a new phase turning into united and powerful liberation movement. Using the conception of jihad, Abd el-Kader was trying to overcome intertribal hostility and unite the different provinces of the country which would inevitably have a major impact on the formation and dissemination of the national liberation ideas. Abd el-Kader succeeded in winning against the French in a very short period of time forcing them to stay in the seaside cities. At the same time the blockade of those cities reduced the supply of the French army which led to the curtailment of fighting efficiency. In the end the local French commander-in-chief, General Louis Alexis Desmichels signed the Desmichels Treaty in 1834, which ceded near-total control of Oran Province to Abd el-Kader. After that Abd el-Kader focused his attention on the internal affairs of the newly formed Arab state, the formation of the army, the establishment of state structures and tax reforms. He also initiated purchase and import of various weapons. Gradually, Abd el-Kader spread his power over almost all of eastern Algeria, from Moroccan border to Algeria, becoming the most dangerous enemy for the French.
