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154 CHAPTER 4the defiance of Alla ag Albachir and his band in the colonial period; throughAlfellaga; to al-Jebha, the rebellion of the 1990s and the recent events from2006 to 2009.This chapter has three aims. The first is to give a comprehensive narrative ofAlfellaga. The second is to show how Tamasheq concepts of masculinity andwarfare determined patterns of warfare during Alfellaga, as well as the militarytactics used by the rebels. The third is to show how in Tamasheq historical discourseAlfellaga is intertwined with other historical events and embedded in anexplanatory narrative of resistance. This chapter focuses on those topics presentedas relevant in Kel Adagh historical discourse: Historical continuity ofresistance; masculine values of honour and combat; the fighting itself; and especiallythe suffering of the population under the repression of the MalianArmed Forces.There is one notable exception to following Kel Adagh narrative lines. KelAdagh informants, both those who lived through Alfellaga and those who participatedin the 1990 rebellion, stress the unprepared nature of the first rebellion,its lack of organisation, and its lack of a clearly formulated goal. This is in starkcontrast with my main archive sources on Alfellaga; the RAC messages fromthe Malian Armed Forces and the interrogation reports of various capturedfighters found in the Cercle of Kidal Archives. From this information it seemsthe rebels were prepared and organised to a much larger extent than they arenow perceived to have been, and that they knew their goal: Independence,reached through an armed conflict with the support of Algeria and, if possible,France. The rebels hoped that by starting their armed uprising these two powerswould come to their aid as they had promised to do in the previous years. Atleast the principal rebel leader Zeyd ag Attaher thought that these two countrieshad promised support, which was not the case. I realise that one of these twosources, the interrogation reports, is problematic as it is unclear under whatcircumstance exactly these statements were made. It is well known that CaptainDiby Sillas Diarra, who led most interrogations, used torture in some cases. Inevertheless believe that the content of the information the rebels gave on theirorganisation and their tactics and armament are sufficiently accurate to be used.Using such material is questionable, but I know that the Kel Adagh themselveswant the story of Alfellaga to be known and there are few sources to know itthrough.The chapter is divided into five parts. The first part presents a history of Allaag Albachir, a notorious rebel-bandit in colonial times, which in Kel Adaghhistorical discourse serves to outline both their reasons for resistance and topresent Alfellaga as but one important chapter in a continuing story of revolt. Inthis section I will introduce the all-important Tamasheq notion of egha, revenge.It is crucial to understand the importance of honour and revenge in