The French Military Campaign on Laghouat (December 4, 1852) Through the Lens of Al-Mubasher Newspaper: Colonial Discourse, Resistance, and Historical Memory in Algeria

Since the French occupation of Algeria in 1830, colonial authorities sought mechanisms to communicate with and influence the local population.One of the earliest and most significant initiatives was the establishment of Arabiclanguage colonial newspapers.Among them, Al-Mubasher, founded in 1847, became a key instrument of propaganda despite its awkward linguistic style.This study focuses on Al-Mubasher's coverage of the French campaign against the city of Laghouat on December 4, 1852, a decisive moment in Algeria's colonial history.The analysis demonstrates how the newspaper narrated the events of the campaign, framed local leaders such as Sharif Muhammad bin Abdullah and Ibn Nacer bin Shaher as agitators, and normalized French punitive measures, including confiscation and looting of property.By examining the colonial discourse in Al-Mubasher, this research highlights the dual role of the newspaper as both a political mouthpiece and a historical archive.Ultimately, the findings reveal the entanglement of propaganda, resistance, and collective memory, offering critical insight into the function of colonial media in Algeria.