Algeria passes revised law criminalising French colonial rule

Algeria’s parliament has approved a revised law condemning French colonial rule, removing earlier provisions that demanded a formal apology and financial reparations from France, as reported by The New Arab staff and agencies on March 10th.

The legislation, adopted on March 9th, still declares France’s colonisation of Algeria between 1830 and 1962 a crime, but was amended after Algeria’s Senate called for changes to better reflect the government’s official position.

Under the revised text, Algeria no longer calls for compensation from Paris. However, the law maintains a clause seeking compensation for victims of French nuclear tests conducted in the country during the colonial era. Lawmakers said the amendments were consistent with the stance of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who has previously stated that Algeria does not seek financial reparations from France. Tebboune has argued that recognition of historical wrongdoing is more important than monetary compensation.

Presenting the revised bill, parliamentary rapporteur Fawzi Bendjaballah said the changes reflected Algeria’s “principled and unwavering position”. He added that the country would not compromise its historical memory or sovereignty for material gain. France criticised the legislation, describing it as “clearly hostile”, particularly at a time of strained diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Tensions have escalated in recent months after France expressed support for Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, a region where Algeria backs the pro-independence Polisario Front. The law lists several alleged crimes committed during the colonial period, including nuclear testing, extrajudicial killings, torture, and the exploitation of Algeria’s natural resources.

French rule in Algeria ended in 1962 following the Algerian War of Independence, a conflict that remains a source of dispute between the two nations. Algerian authorities estimate that the war resulted in 1.5 million deaths, while French historians place the toll closer to 500,000.

Before becoming president, Emmanuel Macron described France’s colonisation of Algeria as a “crime against humanity”. However, France has yet to issue a formal apology for its colonial past.

The New Arab staff and agencies, Maghrebi.org