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MALI’S MISSION CIVILISATRICE 145The regime’s fear of troubles in the Adagh was enhanced by the politicalcircumstances in the bordering countries. The Adagh borders Algeria to thenorth and Niger to the east. Where Mali had opted for the socialist road, andwas eager to break with ‘neo-colonial dependency relations’, Niger opted forstronger ties with France. The country remained part of the OCRS which hadsurvived West African independence as a development organization, resultingin French investments in Northern Niger and a prolonged administration byFrench Commandants of the Nigerien Sahara. The last French Commandant inAgadez only resigned from his post in 1964. The result was that Malian Tamasheqcitizens living in the border area were eager to migrate to Niger, muchto Malian resentment. In Mauritania, French troops were still present at therequest of the Mauritanian President Mokhtar ould Daddah, to ensure the newMauritanian state’s security against unrelenting Moroccan claims on its territory.The reality of this threat was proven by various smaller attacks againstMauritanian officials throughout 1960 and 1961. French troops were also employedagainst smaller pro-Moroccan uprisings within Mauritania during thoseyears, in the Hodh and in the Cercle of Nema. 69 In Algeria the war of independencehad still not reached the Tamasheq south, despite efforts made to includethe Kel Hoggar and the Kel Ajjer in the ranks of the FLN. 70 French rule in theSaharan part of the country was still strong. French military presence was onlyon the increase. The development of de Gaulle's French nuclear strike forcestarted in 1957 with the construction of nuclear test bases in the Hoggar at I-n-Ekker, Reggane and Takormiasse. These bases were constructed by locallyrecruited workers and workers from Soudan Français, since Algerians were nottrusted for fear of FLN affiliation. The working conditions were harsh, but workwas well paid and attracted quite a few Kel Adagh who were eagerly employed.71 The nuclear bases were to remain under full French control until 1967.Moreover, some French officers who had served in the Malian North and someofficers from the Administration des Affaires Musulmanes had been transferredto the Algerian South. 72 Clauzel, one of the longest serving French Commandantsof the Adagh now served in Tamanrasset, where he would stay until Al-69707172Guillemin, J. 1982.Based on Blin, L. 1990; Renaud, 1993; Vallet, M. 1990.Tschumy, J. n.d., CHEAM 3937.The first base was built at Reggane in 1957, whereabove ground test explosions were carried out in 1960. The second base was constructedat I-n-Ekker, where below ground test explosions took place. The third basewas built at Takormiasse.From 1958 onwards, Marcel Cardaire, former head of the Administration des AffairesMusulmanes in Soudan Français, was stationed in Southern Algeria, Annexedu Tidikelt Hoggar, until an unknown date. Affaires politiques, Mauritanie, administrationgénérale 1958. ANSOM – 1affpol/2172/5. Under embargo.