Joint Action by Tunisian and Algerian Resistance Fighters at the Outset of the Algerian War of Independence

Abstract

The outbreak of the Algerian War of Independence gave fresh impetus to co-operation among national liberation movements across the Maghreb, particularly between Algerian and Tunisian resistance fighters. This co-operation subsequently expanded to encompass political, military, and logistical coordination in the struggle against French colonial rule, with support from the Youssefist movement in Tunisia. Algerian and Tunisian resistance networks also contributed to efforts to unify the Maghrebi armed struggle through the project of establishing a Maghreb Liberation Army. This study examines the nature and various forms of this co-operation and assesses its impact on the course of the Algerian struggle for independence. It employs a historical-analytical approach, drawing upon archival documents and a range of historical sources.