Journal Article

French Expeditions to the Algerian Sahara between Orientalism and Colonialism

Achour, Mahfoud, Hassani, Moussa

2024

Overview

French interest in the Algerian Sahara, particularly the M'zab Valley, dates back to the early 18th century. This interest developed and crystallized into an intellectual Orientalist movement led by French and European explorers, military leaders, and scientific elites at the beginning of the 19th century. While appearing to be scientific and exploratory in nature, the underlying goal was to serve France's preemptive plans to extend its control over the region and occupy it. Most of the Orientalist reports and writings focused on studying the origins, ethnicities, customs, and traditions of the local population, identifying their strengths and weaknesses, and examining their social and familial bonds. Additionally, these Orientalists sought to create a Frenchified elite from the local population. Orientalists like Dumas Eygun, Henri Duveyrier, and Émile Masqueray, among others, prepared secret reports that the colonial authorities used as references for military and then settler expansion in the region and the Sahara at large. This was part of the broader effort to establish a commercial and economic route connecting Algeria with the regions of Western Sudan, including Mali and Timbuktu, in search of new markets for French economic and commercial products.

• Publisher: مركز البصيرة للبحوث والاستشارات والخدمات التعلمية
• Subject: التوسع العسكري / الحملات الفرنسية / السلطات الاستعمارية / الصحراء الجزائرية