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  • This article takes as its geographical context the M’Zab, a region known for its social, doctrinal and historical particularities, but also for its own institutional organisation. These institutions include tiskra/tiskriwin, the traditional version of neighbourhood committees that have been adapted to modern forms of association. The aim is therefore to look back at these neighbourhood committees, their origins, their organisation and their role in a Mozabite town. The research underscores the integral role of tiskriwin in promoting local solidarity and cultural continuity in the M’Zab valley. Despite evolving under national policies, these associations retain traditional wisdom and community support, ensuring their ongoing relevance in neighbourhood governance and social cohesion. To achieve this, in addition to documentary research, we carried out field surveys. The survey took place mainly in the ksar of Ghardaïa, with some return visits to the town of Béni Isguen. The aim was to find out how these tiskriwin were structured and managed, and what roles they fulfilled. By analysing all these sources, interviews and documents, we were able to understand how the tiskriwin were organised and what role they played within their communitites.

  • This article explores intercommunity relations in the M'Zab region of southern Algeria during the pre-colonial period. Known as a refuge for the Mozabites, Berber ibadites, the region boasted a unique identity with its own institutions and a history of autonomy. The Mozabites coexisted with Jews, ḥamriyas, and various nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes, who were mainly Malikite and Arabic-speaking. Their interactions ranged from economic cooperation to conflict, influenced by circumstances and alliances. The study aims to clarify how the Mozabites engaged with foreigners and lived alongside them before French colonization in 1882. Relying on documentary research into demographic composition, historical roles of different groups, and existing power dynamics, along with local interviews, the paper sheds light on these complex relationships. Understanding these historical interactions is crucial for grasping the current ethnic and doctrinal conflicts in the region, including those in 2015, and highlights the im-portance of historical context in contemporary community relations.

Last update: 4/28/26, 8:04 AM (UTC)