The Welfare Committee in the Leadership of Ouerghema, Southern Tunisia : A Weapon Against Rivals (1955–1956)

Abstract

This article initially examines the context in which the Care Committees were established in Tunisia, their official legitimization by the government, and their relationship with the party's Political Bureau. It subsequently focuses on the Care Committee in Qiyada and Ragma, which was led by the resistance figure Msabah al-Jarbou‘ under a formal mandate from the Tunisian authorities. The study then explores the roles played by these armed formations, acting under directives from the Political Bureau, and analyzes their organizational structure, modes of armament, and the nature of al-Jarbou‘’s interactions with both the French military leadership in the south and the regional Tunisian administration. Furthermore, the article outlines the key phases in the evolution of these committees and the responsibilities entrusted to them, including the pursuit of Youssefist opponents and the provision of security for Bourguiba’s and the party’s activities in the region. Select episodes linked to their operations are also discussed, highlighting a spectrum of actions that oscillated between leniency and violence. The article concludes by addressing local perceptions of these committees, the grievances submitted to the Bey, and the circumstances surrounding their dissolution and the eventual fate of their members.