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Harki
From Arabic: harka
Term used for Muslim Algerians aiding the French Army during the Algerian War 1954-1962. Sometimes, the term is extended to describe all cooperating with or supporting the French in Algeria. It is somestimes also used for descendants of Algerians living in France since 1962.
The term comes from Arabic for "movement".
Today, "harki" today is a derogatory term, used by Muslims, Algerian nationalists and Islamists in anti-Western propaganda.
By the end of the Algerian War, perhaps 230,000 Muslim Algerians served in the French forces.
Many Harkis aided the French, often as reaction to the FLN's attacks on both them and rival nationalist groups.
The Evian Accords, ending the war in 1962, stated that the rights of the Harki should be protected by the new Muslim government of Algiers. In effect, many Harkis suffered hard after the war, thousands were killed, including children, involving grusome acts. The French government neglected the revenge wave.
Harkis living in France, are not allowed by the Algerian government to visit Algeria.
History
1830: Formation of the Armée d'Afrique in which North African Muslims serves as cavalry or normal soldiers.
1870: The Armée d'Afrique is active in the Franco-Prussian War.
1914-18: The Armée d'Afrique is active in World War 1.
1939-45: The Armée d'Afrique serves with more than 200,000 troops in World War 2, and were active in the liberation of France and the campaigns in Italy and Germany.
1954: Troops from the Armée d'Afrique serve in the French army in Indochina.
— Civil war breaks out in Algeria, causing loyalty problems for the Muslims serving for the French army. There were several incidents of desertation and mutiny. Many Harkis were recruited into self-defense units, stationed in their home regions.
1956: Harki troops serve increasingly alongside the French army.
1962: About 91,000 Harkis seek refuge in France. A wave of killings hit the remaining Harkis, killing thousands, often in the most grusome way.
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