Mourad Dhina: a brief history of Algeria’s future

Family background

Mourad Dhina was born on the eve of Algeria’s independence, on 6 August 1961, in Blida. He is the fifth in a family of five sisters and four brothers. He comes from a well-known family in Laghouat, a town at the gate of the Algerian Sahara, whose history is woven with spirituality, resistance to French colonisation and intellectual vitality [1].

When Mourad was born, his father, Mohamed Dhina, was under arrest in Blida. This detention came after a series of internments at the camps of Ain-Oussera, Bossuet in Sidi-Bel-Abbes, and Arcole in Arzew, which followed his arrest just after the national strike on 28 January 1957, on the eve of the debate of the Algerian issue at the UN. Mohamed Dhina ─ born in Laghouat on 23 February 1920 and died on 10 November 2000 ─ was an independence activist of the first hour. As secretary of the Democratic Union of the Algerian Manifesto (UDMA) of Laghouat, a party led by Ferhat Abbas, he wrote and raised awareness for the national cause and strived politically with Mohamed Bensalem for the independence of Algeria. Two months after the declaration of 1 November 1954, Laghouat joined the armed struggle. Mohamed Dhina, who had joined the National Liberation Front, contributed to the structuring of the first nucleus of guerrillas in the region, a core which expanded into groups of mujahideen in the Gaada Mountain in the chain of Djebel Amour (Aflou) [2]. Because of his revolutionary activities in the Wilaya VI, he was targeted by the colonial army and the armed militias of Bellounis controlled by the French [3]. His cousin, Tahar Dhina, died in battle at the time.

Left picture: Laghouat UDMA elected councillors in 1947. Mohamed Dhina, with a fez, is standing second from the right. Right picture: With Colonel Mohamed Chaabani on the day of independence in Laghouat.

At independence, Mohamed Dhina became the first sub-prefect of Laghouat before taking up the same post in Touggourt. He was subsequently demoted to the level of special representative and sent to Médéa, a penalty inflicted on him by Ahmed Ben Bella for his friendship and support of Colonel Chaabani. This sanction ended in August 1965 [4],  when he was appointed secretary general of the Wilaya of El Asnam, then Ouargla until November 1971 [5], after which he was appointed secretary general of the Wilaya of Batna, a position he held until his retirement.

Mohamed Dhina is the second son of Abdelkader Dhina, one of the first indigenous teachers who graduated from the Ecole Normale d’Instituteurs d’Alger-Bouzaréa in 1896. Although talented, he did not continue his studies to avoid French naturalisation [6]. Two other sons of Abdelkader Dhina were successful academics.

Atallah Dhina, a former director of education of Laghouat, a doctor of history from the University of Paris, taught at the Institute of History of the University of Algiers, of which he was also a director. He has published numerous books and articles [7].

Amar Dhina, the eldest son of Abdelkader, born on 9 April 1902 at Laghouat and eighteen years older than Mohamed, is particularly important to mention because he took charge of the education of Mourad. After primary and secondary education at Kourdane and Médéa, respectively, he went to the Ecole Normale d’Instituteurs d’Alger-Bouzaréa, where he graduated as a teacher [8]. When Sheikh Mubarak El Mili, sent by the Association of Ulama, came to teach in Laghouat in 1927, Amar left his job as a teacher to assist Sheikh El Mili in his education and awareness raising mission. He studied the Arabic language and assisted Sheikh El Mili in the drawing of maps for the latter’s impressive work ‘The History of Algeria’ [9]. Amar then went to France to study pedagogy. [10]. From 1933 to 1940, he taught in Miliana while pursuing a higher education. He later taught at the Modern College of Blida [11], and passed the higher education agrégation in Arabic language and literature in 1951 [12].

From left to right: Atallah, Amar and Mohamed Dhina

After independence he was appointed General Inspector of Arabic education at the Ministry of Education and taught Islamic civilisation at the University of Algiers [13]. A humble and devout man, a fine teacher and an erudite ─ he was much interested in history, geography, astronomy and painting as in his own field of expertise ─ he dedicated his entire life to teaching and research until his death in December 1987 [14]. He has published numerous books and articles [15]. In recognition of his achievements, the Amar Dhina Technical College of Laghouat is named after him.

It was in this spiritual, intellectual and patriotic environment that Mourad grew up. He was educated mainly by his eldest uncle, Amar Dhina, with whom he had lived in Blida and had awakened his mind and natural curiosity. His father, in turn, had taught him courage and the sense of responsibility.