Jamal Awil

← A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962

Beaufre partitioned Algeria into three zones of differing military priority [fact]

Noting that there was no parallel djemaa tradition in the Arab Constantinois, and critical of the army's prevailing strategy (or lack of one) of attempting to be strong everywhere, Beaufre divided his area into different zones of varying priority. Sparsely populated regions were ordained zones interdites, their inhabitants resettled elsewhere and the army permitted to fire on any person observed there, thus physically denying the F.L.N. all access to food or supplies. Fertile and populous centres were dubbed zones de pacification, where to assure total security Beaufre concentrated the mass of his conscript and reservist forces (aiming for a minimum physical presence of one company per 100 square kilometres), accompanied by a major effort in economic advancement, education and propaganda indoctrination. Finally, there were zones d'opérations — "killing-grounds" where F.L.N. bands were relentlessly pursued and harried by Beaufre's élite mobile forces.

XREF: This zonal counterinsurgency strategy parallels other COIN frameworks (protected vs. contested vs. denied areas) and anticipates modern counterinsurgency doctrine. DEFINE: Distinguishes zones interdites, zones de pacification, and zones d'opérations as distinct COIN concepts.

Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Alge…, loc. 503