Algeria's National Assembly Declares French Colonisation a Crime, Demands Apology and Reparations
Algeria's National Assembly unanimously approved a law declaring France's colonisation of Algeria a crime. The legislation demands an apology and reparations from France for the colonial past. MPs wore scarves in the colors of the Algerian national flag and chanted "long live Algeria" following the vote.
The law holds France legally responsible for the tragedies caused during colonisation, listing crimes such as nuclear tests, extrajudicial killings, physical and psychological torture, and systematic plundering of resources. It calls for full and fair compensation to the Algerian state and people.
Colonisation lasted from 1830 to 1962, ending with the war of independence from 1954 to 1962. Algeria asserts that 1.5 million were killed, while French historians estimate about 500,000 deaths.
Though largely symbolic, the move is politically significant, signifying a rupture in memory and in relations with France amid a diplomatic crisis. French President Emmanuel Macron has acknowledged colonisation as a crime against humanity but has not apologized. The French foreign ministry declined to comment on the vote.
Legal expert Hosni Kitouni said that while the law has no international binding effect, its political and symbolic importance is substantial.
