Dr. Mohamed Doumir Exposes Historical Betrayal by Moroccan Sultan Abd al-Rahman bin Hisham Against Emir Abdelkader on Dzair Tube
✏️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada
Algiers, Algeria | August 7th, 2024 — In a revealing interview on the “Remontada” program hosted by Mustapha Bounif, Dr. Mohamed Doumir, a distinguished historian and content creator, provided an in-depth analysis of a critical episode in the Algerian resistance against French colonial rule. Broadcast on the Dzair Tube channel, the interview illuminated Sultan Abd al-Rahman bin Hisham of Morocco’s betrayal of Emir Abdelkader, a central figure in Algeria’s fight for independence.
Historical Context of Betrayal
Dr. Doumir’s discussion highlighted the stark contrast in historical recognition between Emir Abdelkader and Sultan Abd al-Rahman bin Hisham. Notably, Emir Abdelkader’s legacy is celebrated across 93 languages on Wikipedia, reflecting his significant impact on global historical narratives. In contrast, Sultan Abd al-Rahman’s mention is confined to just four languages, indicative of his lesser international prominence.
Dr. Doumir emphasized that while Emir Abdelkader’s leadership and resistance have been extensively chronicled and revered across diverse cultures, Sultan Abd al-Rahman’s role as an adversary, particularly his alignment with French forces, has received comparatively scant scholarly attention.
Details of the Betrayal
In the interview, Dr. Doumir detailed the specific acts of betrayal perpetrated by Sultan Abd al-Rahman, which he argues were crucial in undermining Emir Abdelkader’s resistance against French colonial forces. According to Dr. Doumir, Sultan Abd al-Rahman’s motivations included envy and fear of the Emir’s growing influence, leading him to conspire with the French to disrupt the Algerian struggle.
Dr. Doumir elaborated on the significant elements of Sultan Abd al-Rahman’s betrayal of Emir Abdelkader. He detailed how the Sultan systematically worked to undermine the Emir’s position by eroding his support among Moroccan tribes and regional leaders, which weakened the Emir’s base of power. Furthermore, the Sultan collaborated with French forces, providing critical intelligence and logistical support that aided their operations against the Emir. Dr. Doumir also described incidents of sabotage, including attacks on Emir Abdelkader’s camp and deliberate disruptions in the supply lines, orchestrated by the Sultan to impair the Emir’s military campaign.
In his words, Dr. Doumir stated, “Emir Abdelkader managed to unite the Algerian ranks in an unprecedented manner against the French, which had a profound effect on the people of Oujda and the surrounding areas. This widespread support for the Emir undermined Sultan Abd al-Rahman of Morocco, who was ruling from the far east along the Atlantic coast.”
Doumir continued, “The growing support for the young Emir from regions under Moroccan control incited jealousy and fear in the Sultan. He was apprehensive about the Emir’s rising influence and potential threat to his own reign.”
He further noted, “Many Moroccans admired Emir Abdelkader’s character even before he sought refuge in the Moulouya River region from the French army. People flocked to him while he was still based in Oran and Tlemcen.”
Regarding the Emir’s remarkable appeal, Doumir attributed it to his eloquence and scholarly attributes—he was a poet, writer, imam, and religious scholar—coupled with his bravery and skill in defending against the French. These qualities provoked envy and fear in the Sultan, who was concerned about the Emir’s growing power and influence.
Doumir described how Sultan Abd al-Rahman, motivated more by a desire to cling to his throne than by any genuine concern for governance, began to malign Emir Abdelkader. The Sultan spread false accusations about the Emir through his propaganda network, consisting of poets and writers.
As the conflict intensified, Doumir recounted that Emir Abdelkader was forced to retreat to the Oujda region to execute his tactics of hit-and-run against the superior weaponry of the French. During this period, the French alerted Sultan Abd al-Rahman that his subjects in the region were supporting the Emir, which emboldened the Sultan to declare war on Abdelkader, seeing the French as allies against him.
Doumir added, “From that moment on, the Moroccan Sultan began sending messages to tribal leaders, warning them against harboring or interacting with Emir Abdelkader and his forces, effectively cutting off any cooperation with them.”
He further recounted a specific incident where Emir Abdelkader, having left women and children by the Moulouya River during a battle in Tlemcen, returned to find that the Sultan had sent marauders to attack the women, mutilate the Emir’s camels, and destroy their tents. Despite his exhaustion from fighting the French, the Emir pursued and dealt with the marauders, who revealed that the Sultan had incited their attack. The Emir subsequently executed them.
Dr. Doumir reflected on the broader consequences of these betrayals, stressing that Sultan Abd al-Rahman’s actions significantly impacted the trajectory of the Algerian resistance. He posited that, absent such betrayals, Emir Abdelkader might have more effectively countered French advances, potentially altering the course of Algeria’s struggle for independence.
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