Classical Political System

The seven main groups of the "Tuareg" were politically independent from each other. There has never been a common head of all "Tuareg".

ETTEBEL – Drum Group

Very fragile political alliances of multiple subgroups had formed within a main group. There were never alliances between main groups.
The alliances within a main group were named after the leading group (Tausit). The meetings were called together by a special drum, Ettebel, therefore this group was also called Ettebel. Kel Rela was eg. the political "Ettebel" group to which the Kel Rela, Aguh en Tehle and Kel Tefedest belonged. 
Each ettebel-group determined an amenukal as their leader.

AMENUKAL - Leader of an Ettebel

The original function of the Amenukal among the "Tuareg" was being a consultant or leader of an Ettebel group. This leader was determined solely by the Kel Ulli and the Ihaggaren were not allowed to elect the Amenukal (Nicolaisen/Nicolaisen 1997: 511). The Amenukal had no executive power over individual groups.

It was the French military, who called the Amenukal king, who granted him that kind of authority: 
„[...] the authority of the Amenokal, supported and reinforced by the French military administration and no longer disputed by the other drum groups, became almost absolute throughout Ahaggar“ (Keenan 1977: 90).

AMRAR - Male Leader of a tent group

A group of mobile cattle breeders within a subgroup designates an amrar. This amrar has the function of an adviser. The man with the highest social competence is elected as amrar and not the oldest. The selection is therefore not based on the seniority principle.

TAMRART - Female Leader of a tent group

In a nomadic tent camp a woman is appointed as Tamrart. She is not the eldest woman in the nomad camp, but a woman with high social and economic competence. The Tamrart advises the other goat breeders in the group and suggests for example when the camp should be moved to another place.

Recent developments in southern Algeria:
An Ettebel no longer exists.  An Amenukal is still designated but he is not involved in the Algerian Government and has only local significance. An amrar and a tamrart are still elected by nomad groups.