Idaksahak: Between Myths, History and Resilience

1. General Presentation

The Idaksahak are a large community living mainly in Mali and Niger. All in all, it is a community with an interesting specificity within the general specificity of the Tuareg world. The Idaksahak are estimated at around 300,000 souls in Mali, although this population is also present in Niger, Morocco, Algeria and Libya.

2. Question of Origins

Are they Indo-European or Greco-Roman? What is certain is that the blood study conducted by Dr André Chaventré on the Kel Akamed and related groups clearly demonstrated that the blood of the Idaksahak bears no resemblance to that of other neighboring tribes (Imouchagh and Eklan). For some, they come from the Middle East; for others, they are of Turkish origin. The Idaksahak themselves claim to come from south-eastern Morocco (Tafilalt region). In any case, we know with certainty that this community contains both sharifian groups and Hamito-Semitic groups. They are the 'Banu Ishaq', descendants of the prophet Ishaq (Isaac), son of Abraham. We can confidently state that the Idaksahak, very noble, are not Jews, as some claim.

3. Why a Jewish Origin is Unlikely

Indeed, after the dismantling of the Tamantit synagogue in Morocco by the marabout El Maghili in 1492, a group of Jewish populations came to vanish and disappear into the desert. The Jewish origin is ruled out by the simple characteristics of this community:

- At the beginning of the 15th century, the Idaksahak were leaders of the Songhai Empire.

- The Idaksahak language is composed essentially of Tamasheq, Arabic and Songhai.

- The community, extremely endogamous, has remained conservative.

- The Idaksahak are also characterized by their centuries-old economic independence.

- They are among the founders of the fairs of the Hausa principalities in Nigeria.

- Great herders, 100% Muslim (Sunni), they adopted the Maliki school as early as the 12th century. They adore the camel species.

- Like the Kel Essouk, it is the community where, in the Tuareg environment, almost everyone recites the entire Quran.

4. The Idaksahak and Colonial Resistance

In 1902, one of the most important chiefs of the Idaksahak community, named Mohamed Adargajoj, came to submit to the French colonizer in Ansongo. As if to show his distrust, the French administrator flatly refused this allegiance which was not what it seemed. In reality, Chief Adargajoj (father of Ayouba), closely linked to the Fihroun revolt, was attempting a superficial submission.

Similarly, the Idaksahak of Habib Ag Aïbora (Tabaho) and their cousins were truly an armed arm of the Kel Talataye of Fihroun. Thus, the Idaksahak actively took part in the battles of Filingué and Adaranboukar. Moreover, during the battle of Adaranboukar, only one Adaksahak (Idoguiritane) managed to obtain a firearm taken from the French army and its Arab allies.

Very close to the Imajaghan, the Idaksahak were party to the Fihroun agreements with the colonial administrator in 1917. It should be noted that the peace of 1917 was made by them in the absence of the Imajaghan.

5. Economic Independence and Rebellions

The economic and intellectual independence of the Idaksahak, very marked throughout the colonial and pre-colonial period, began to crumble with the 1963 rebellion. The unexplained presence of Mr Illiass Ag Ayouba at the front in 1963 alongside Zeid Ag Attaher and other rebellion leaders of the time certainly expressed an ideal, but this ideal was far from being shared by the Idaksahak community.

Nevertheless, it must be recognized that this community can be counted among the fathers of rebellions. Rightly or wrongly, the community armed itself in a concerted manner during the 1990 rebellion for effective participation throughout this period. In this recent rebellion, it has a large presence both politically and militarily within the MPA of Iyad Ag Ghali.

6. Idaksahak Today

Nowadays, this community is searching for itself. The search for self strongly engages it in the struggle for a prosperous Mali. However, the game of interests, the misunderstanding of the stakes and agendas carried by the various actors in the current conflict divide the community among the armed movements in the field.

Nevertheless, the community leaders (appointed during the last meeting in Adaranboukar from June 30 to July 2, 2014) are actively working to end the division of our community and restore a clearer image to it.

7. Idaksahak on the Move

Without wanting to speak of a true renaissance, under the impetus of the unanimously elected president in Anderamboucane (Injakok) on July 2, 2014, a new and original dynamic has been launched not only to resist terrorist and inter-community shocks, despite the worrying impoverishment of the Sahelian region.

To do this and under the direction of their president Moussa Ag Acharatoumane, the Idaksahak have organized several inter and intra-community meetings using their own funds. Not once has the community benefited from external support.