Paris calls Algeria’s move to “criminalize” French colonialism “hostile.”
The adoption of a law criminalizing French colonialism (1830-1962) is a clearly hostile act that is at the same time at odds with the desire to resume dialogue between France and Algeria and to calm debate on historical issues.
The French Foreign Ministry spokesman stressed that Paris “is not in a position to comment on Algerian internal politics” and can only condemn such an initiative, referring to “the extensive work carried out by President Emmanuel Macron on the memory of colonialism through a joint commission of French and Algerian historians.
The government body added: “We continue to strive to resume an intensive dialogue with Algeria, a dialogue that can take into account the priority interests of France and its people, in particular on security and immigration issues.”
The Algerian parliament unanimously approved a law criminalizing French colonialism yesterday (Wednesday), calling it a “state crime” and demanding an official apology from Paris.
According to the report, members of parliament rose from their seats and began to applaud after approving the law, which holds the French government legally responsible for colonialism in Algeria and its atrocities.
According to the law, French colonial crimes, including extrajudicial executions, torture, sexual assault, nuclear testing, and the targeted plunder of the country’s wealth, are not subject to any statute of limitations.
The law was passed at a time when relations between Algeria and France were at their most tense. Tensions have escalated, especially after Paris supported Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, a move that contradicts Algeria’s stance in supporting the region’s right to self-determination.
Furthermore, historical differences over the consequences of 130 years of French colonialism in Algeria remain one of the main factors in the continuing crisis in relations between the two countries.