ASC-075287668-2887-01

ALFELLAGA 163The initial group of about ten men around Zeyd ag Attaher grew rapidly.Still, the number of ifulagen was never high. From all data at my disposal Icould calculate that at most 250 men were involved during the rebellion. However,the number of ifulagen at any precise point during the rebellion must havebeen lower. These men lacked sufficient material to fight the Malian forces.Mounted on camels in their flowing indigo robes and armed mostly with outdatedrifles they are easily depicted as a hopeless band of warriors of old. However,this picture is besides the truth. Many of the warriors were not dressed inflowing indigo robes, but in green battle dress. Why would the ifulagen spendtheir resources on obtaining these outfits? An explanation could be that wearingbattle dress exemplified the movement’s concern to present themselves as aliberation army. To most Kel Tamasheq, dress is a highly valorised means ofexpression. Dress should reflect presumed (or desired) status. If the Kel Adaghfighters wanted to present themselves as the rightful army of Tamasheq independence,they had to dress accordingly. In keeping with this idea they adopteda new dress code for combat. Another explanation for wearing French battledress might be that it served to make the Malian army think the country wasbeing invaded by French troops, or that at least French troops were supportingthe Kel Adagh. Whether this was their intention or not, not surprisingly theMalian officers were quick to believe the French were indeed involved.I have been informed that these fellagas are directed by French units includingClauzel, Jean, and a certain Bretodeau, who formerly served in Timbuktu, Gao andMénaka, and who was responsible for Muslim affairs in colonial times. 20Camels were the only available means of transport all fighters could use.However, they are also highly effective in the Adagh. Part of the Adagh surfaceis covered with boulder formations or by small but sharply broken stones. Theseterrains can be crossed by camels, but not by cars. The Malian motorised forceswere only effective in open terrain and wadis. As for arms, they were easily andcheaply obtained in Algeria where a lively smuggling of light arms existed eversince World War II. 21 In the 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s the most obtainablefirearms were ‘Mausers’ and ‘Bouceta’s’ (a local name for Manlicher-Carcano),German and Italian repeating rifles of WWII stocks, and French MAS-36 rifles.By acquiring these cheap and known arms, more men could be armed than ifmore expensive and harder to handle modern rifles were bought. Nevertheless,the ifulagen were equipped with some more advanced weapons. Mohamed Aliag Attaher Insar had managed to ship a small amount of material from Morocco2021Chef d’Arrondissement d’Aguelhoc à Cdt. Cercle Kidal, 20/8/1963. ACK.Rapports des tournées Kidal 1944. ANM 1E-24 / 1944.