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162 CHAPTER 4gha engaged himself in the struggle for Tamasheq independence, which madehim suspect of subversive activity. He was arrested and released shortly afterindependence in 1960. He then went to Algeria where he found a job at theFrench nuclear base at Takormiasse in 1962. 14 He managed to bring in other KelAdagh employees at the base. In return, the employed Kel Adagh gave part oftheir wages to Amegha, which he used to buy weapons in Tamanrasset for thefuture revolt. 15 Zeyd’s group was not limited to the Kel Adagh. They keptcontact with Mohamed Ali ag Attaher Insar who encouraged and supportedZeyd’s plans. In Zeyd’s following were also Younes and Ilyas ag Ayyouba, thesons of the very wealthy Ayyouba ag Mohamed Adargajouj, the chief of theDaoussahak, a tribe living in the Tamesna plains south-east of the Adagh. Withtheir help and money Zeyd bought about thirty rifles in the Tamanrasset areafrom a Frenchman working there. 16 The rifles were hidden until the start of therevolt. Former goumier Sidi Alamine ag Cheick and his brother Issouf agCheick were at the head of a second group. In January 1963 Issouf broke into anarms depot in Timbuktu and took some guns, ammunition and battle fatiguesdestined for the future uprising. 17 With this material the two brothers fled toAlgeria where they joined Amegha and Zeyd’s group at the French nuclear baseat Takormiasse. 18 In January 1963 this group of men decided to start an armedrevolt, although no date was set. A second reunion was held in the Adagh atTidjim in June 1963. 19 Elledi ag Alla, who had by then declared his intentionsof vengeance to the goumier Ahiyaya ag Ouarzeza described at the start of thischapter, knew about Zeyd’s presence at Tidjim and joined him there. After hehad explained his action to those assembled it was decided that this was a goodmoment to start the rebellion.141516171819The French nuclear test base in the Algerian Hoggar Mountains, generally referredto as Reggane, was in fact multi sited, spread between three localities: Reggane, InEkker and Takormiasse. The first ground surface nuclear test explosion took placeon February 13 th , 1960, with two more following in April and December that year.The local population was assembled in places on a distance of about 12 Km, equippedwith radiation dosimeters and guarded by French army personnel. Many fearedfor their lives as the explosion had been explained to them as “similar to the end ofthe world”. Rozier, J. 2007. Later tests at the base were subterranean. The base remainedfunctional until 1964.Interview with Amegha ag Sherif. Bamako, 10/02/1998.Questions posées par le Capitaine Diarra, Commandant la C.S.M. et le Cercle deKidal, au rebelle Amouksou ag Azandeher. Kidal, 04/10/1963. ACK.Chef d’Arrondissement d’Aguelhoc à Cdt. Cercle Kidal, 14/01/1963. ACK.Questions posées par le Capitaine Diarra, Commandant la C.S.M. et le Cercle deKidal, au rebelle Amouksou ag Azandeher. Kidal, 04/10/1963. ACK.Ibid.