Scientific event

It is impossible to speak of places of memory without interrogating all the symbolism associated with them, most notably the geographical location, the actors, and the events whose details—both declared and undeclared—remain deeply engraved in the minds of many. Coinciding with the sixtieth anniversary of Independence and the debates and research it generated regarding national memory, it was essential to explore our local memory for the social, cultural, and even psychological dimensions it carries. The Battle of Sidi Ghalem, which took place in the south of the Oran region between July 18 and 20, 1956, is considered one of the most important battles that formed a place of memory preserved within the popular memory of Oran.

The enduring presence of the Battle of Sidi Ghalem in popular memory, and its resistance to fading away, prompted the research team to connect with one of the actors and participants in this battle: the Moudjahid Ben Saha Kada. He shared his testimony regarding the battle, opening up a discussion alongside a select group of permanent researchers on what remains of the memory of the National Liberation War battles in Oran.