The Algerian Embassy in Manama Celebrates the 83rd Anniversary of the National Day of the Algerian Muslim Scouts: A school of Nationalism

Before the 1930s, the Algerian Scouts which were purely French in nature, included religious and secular scouting groups such as the Catholic Scouts and others. Some young Algerians joined the ranks of the French Scouts. They were attracted by its uniform, medals, order and discipline, and they remained in this state of affairs until the centennial celebrations of the French occupation of Algeria in 1930. The participation of the French Scouts in the parades organized at this occasion disgusted the Algerians and intensified their hatred against the colonialists, to a such extent that withdrew from these scouts and began to work and strive for thecreation of a purely Algerian scouting team. Their endeavor received the support and backing of the hitherto reformists in Algeria.

After this date, many Algerian scout regiments appeared, the first of which was founded in 1935, and all of them were but a political reaction to the colonizer domination and the myth of “French Algeria” that it was promoting. They were rather an affirmation of Algeria’s Arabic and Islamic identity. These regiments carried a clear political character. In 1935, Mohamed Bouras (1908 - 1941) prepared the legal status and internal regulations of the Algerian Islamic Scouts, then headed the first administrative office of the Algerian Islamic Scouts Federation in 1939. He held firm in his political resistance within this institution until the date of his execution in 1941 after being accused of collaboration with the Nazis. In fact, Muhamed Bouras tried to acquire weapons and prepare an armed revolution, but the lack of a structured organization capable of carrying out a such project hastened hisend and led to his martyrdom. May his soul and those all the faithful departed martyrs rest in peace. 

Likewise, the Algerian Islamic Scouts remained a primary incubator and a precious nursery of the struggle that prepares for the true forthcoming Revolutionary action. It provided generations of politically and physically prepared youth that had to raise the torch of resistance and nourished the national movement with countless brave men who later achieved Algeria’s independence and sovereignty.

 Long live Algeria, free and invincible. Glory and eternity to our righteous martyrs.

Ambassador Dr. Mahmoud Braham