His father was called "Al-Tayeb", and was one of the descendants of the Algerian Sufi, Sidi Salem bin Makhlouf.

[2] Following the Treaty of Tafna the Emirate of Abdelkader began expanding to the east through signing alliances, and gaining the loyalty of local tribes.

He warned the already cautious tribes about the French expansion into their homeland, and talked with many of the local chiefs, one of them being Ahmed bin Salem.

[4] The area of Bouïra, was at the time still in the hands of the local tribes, such as the Beni Jaad, which resisted the French conquest.

Ahmed bin Salem in turn attacked several settlements inhabited by French settlers, and stole their cattle.

After hearing about the French army's location, he ambushed general Sylvain Charles Valée's troops, and nearly destroyed their rear before retreating, successfully utilizing Hit-and-run tactics.

The French administration immediately sent Nicolas Changarnier to lift the siege, and hopefully kill Ahmed bin Salem.

[11][12] The Berber horsemen under Ahmed bin Salem extended their operations from the region of Kabylia to the Mitidja Plain in early 1842 by attacking the French forces around the area of Béni Mered.

General Thomas Robert Bugeaud, during April 1844, attempted to launch an expedition to end the Emirate's influence over Kabylia.