Understanding the Historical Context of Western Sahara
In an intriguing eight-page document titled "Note and Information on Western Sahara" preserved in the Vincennes archives, the tribes of Western Sahara are designated as "Moroccan" as early as 1918. This document aims to justify and explain why these tribes were recognized as such by various sources, including the French Government in Algeria, the French War Ministry, several French military leaders, and German explorers. Notably, it also excludes the Oued Messaoura (currently known as Oued Saoura in Algeria) from the Algerian Sahara and asserts the suzerainty of the Cherifian Sultan over the Touat region.
The piece originates from the French administration itself, indicating that the recognition of these tribes as Moroccan is not a retrospective claim but rather the result of a French administrative review. When interpreting "Western Sahara," it’s essential to consider the geographical context of that era. Military literature at the time could encompass areas stretching from Touat, Gourara, and Tidikelt to the Mauritanian Adrar, Seguia el-Hamra, and Rio de Oro. The note focuses specifically on the western Saharan borders of Algeria and Morocco, which should not be conflated with the contemporary map of Western Sahara. This distinction avoids anachronism while maintaining the central claim: in the "Western Sahara" it describes, the French administration encounters a rich Moroccan tribal, political, and commercial landscape.
The French Verdict on Moroccan Tribes
The document makes a straightforward assertion, presenting established classifications rather than speculative hypotheses. It states, "The Doui-Menia and the Ouled Djerir are designated as Moroccan tribes in the works of General Daumas, Rohlfs, Barbié du Bocage, Colonel Niox, Gourgeot, and Lieutenant Le Châtelier (scientific review of 1885)." The significance of this list cannot be overstated, as it includes Daumas, who authored a comprehensive work on the Sahara as early as 1845, and Rohlfs, a German geographer who reached the Touat and declared that this part of the Sahara acknowledged the Sultan of Morocco's suzerainty. Other military figures like Niox and Le Châtelier provide further validation of these classifications.
Moreover, the classification is not confined to literature; it is echoed in official correspondence from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the General Government of Algeria, which also refer to these tribes as "Moroccan." This alignment among three branches of the French administration signifies a consensus on this matter. The historical context is further enriched by Daumas's assertions linking Figuig to Morocco and situating the larger tribal group within Moroccan territory, emphasizing that local administrative autonomy does not negate political allegiance to Morocco.
Additionally, the note emphasizes that the oases of Kenatsa and Kersas had been recognized as the farthest points where taxes were collected for Morocco since 1846, attributing the integration of the ksour of Beni-Goumi and the ksar of Igueli to the Doui-Menia to Colonel Niox's observations. The author refutes a convenient colonial argument that equates local autonomy with independence, clarifying that the presence of a local council or ksar does not eliminate higher sovereignty. This perspective aligns with the French administration's understanding in Algeria, reinforcing that internal community autonomy does not create an independent state.
The note ultimately expands its analysis to the course of the Saoura and its surrounding oases, leading to a definitive conclusion: "From a broader perspective, one must recognize, as Mr. Le Châtelier suggests, that the course and riverine oases of Oued Messaoura do not belong to the Algerian Sahara." This statement represents the document's territorial core, as the author delineates the Saoura valley and its oases as outside Algerian territory. This observation is particularly noteworthy, given that the Saoura would later be incorporated into colonial Algeria and then into independent Algeria. The document thus reflects a prior state of French knowledge before conquest and administration imposed a different territorial map.
In conclusion, the note highlights the significance of understanding historical perspectives regarding Western Sahara. It reveals that, prior to colonial occupations and imposed maps, France acknowledged the Moroccan classification of these border tribes and recognized the inhabited oases of Saoura as distinct from the uncharted desert. It also indicates that the Touat maintained political, religious, and symbolic ties to the Sultan, with inhabitants seeking documents from him as their master. The French military's approach advocated for economic penetration rather than immediate occupation, suggesting that the Saharan regions should be opened to Europeans through trade rather than military force, reflecting a cautious strategy influenced by logistical challenges and local dynamics.
As reported by fr.le360.ma.
