General Jean-François Gentil participated in the battle against the tribes of Tizi Ouzou in June 1845[1] The former Agha, known as Belqasem Oqasi, alongside the Khalifa Ahmed ben Salem, endeavored in March 1845 to incite rebellion among the tribes surrounding the Sebaou Valley near Tizi Ouzou Their objective was to regain influence over the region.

[3] However, the French occupation forces swiftly mobilized their collaborating troops at the onset of the rebellion, fortifying themselves in "Burj Tizi Ouzou" in the Rajaouna Mountains.

They communicated the precarious situation to the Governor-General in Algiers[4] General De Bar dispatched approximately 200 cavalry, overseen by the Commander of the Yser Region, to Tizi Ouzou to reinforce the appointed leaders and repel the tribal resistance's attack[5] This support was followed by the arrival of another contingent of knights sent by the Commander of the Khachna Region, known as "The Arab General," to reinforce the defenders of Tizi Ouzou.

[6] The two forces, the tribal resistance on one side and the French collaborators on the other, clashed in the region of "Ouled Boukhelifa" (Boukhalfa) at the beginning of June 1845.

There, Belqasem Oqasi and Ahmed ben Salem, along with the tribal resistors supporting them, suffered defeat, The resistance suffered some casualties, leading them to abandon Belqasem Oqasi and his successor, especially after discovering the camp of General Jean-François Gentil, who had arrived to support the French collaborators in Tizi Ouzou.