la bataille de Settara a mis en avant l’un des côtés les plus abjects de la barbarie coloniale
Summary of the Battle of Douar Sbih (April 26-27, 1958)
The Battle of Douar Sbih, which unfolded over April 26-27, 1958, near Settara in Jijel province, is remembered as a significant yet tragic episode in Algeria’s fight for independence. The struggle involved over 1,000 French soldiers confronting Algerian fighters, exemplifying both the heroism of the latter and the brutality of colonial forces.
Survivor Mohcen Ibrahim, who lost 12 family members during this battle, shared haunting memories of the violence enacted by the French army. He noted how the colonial forces employed heavy artillery and aerial bombardment, including the use of napalm, to terrorize the local population. Ibrahim recalled how, in the early hours of April 26, the French army encircled the region, attacking with bombers and ground troops in a bid to root out Algerian resistance.
The intensity of the assault was marked by the deployment of around 40 bombers, which unleashed destruction on the village of Beni Sbih—a vital commercial hub at the time. The fighting lasted hours, escalating into close-quarters combat as the day wore on. Ibrahim recounted trying to find refuge in a cave, where he encountered terrified families. Tragically, the French forces stormed this shelter, resulting in the indiscriminate killing of unarmed civilians, including women and children.
Ibrahim vividly described witnessing the horrific murder of a baby seeking nourishment from its slain mother—a memory that has remained etched in his mind. He himself was injured but managed to survive, while many of his relatives perished before his eyes—a trauma he believes will haunt him forever.
According to Daoud Bouguelmoun, an authority from Jijel’s Museum of the Mujahid, this battle was one of the bloodiest of Algeria’s war of liberation. Records indicate that approximately 100 Algerian fighters and around 300 civilians—mainly women, children, and the elderly—lost their lives. While many were killed on the ground, the French forces showed no mercy, disregarding the humane treatment of non-combatants.
A handful of fighters survived, aided by Mustapha Filali, who devised a way for them to escape amidst the chaos of the siege. Today, a memorial near the Ghebala Martyrs’ Cemetery honors the 410 Algerians—combatants and civilians alike—who perished during this conflict, while the battle claimed the lives of approximately 1,100 French soldiers. This event serves as a poignant reminder of the harsh realities faced during Algeria’s fight for independence and the sacrifices made by its people.
