Fiftieth anniversary of the Saharan Companies

The Saharan Companies were units of the French army intended to control the territories of the Sahara during French Algeria. They played a major role during the conquest of southern Algeria, then the French presence in the Sahara. Using camels in these regions where the first automobiles could not venture, they were also referred to as Méharist Companies. The law of March 30, 1902 created five Saharan companies respectively based in Fort-Polignac (Tassili), Tindouff, El Oued, Adrar and Tamanrasset