Algerian senate urges review of law declaring French colonisation a crime

Algeria's Legislative Revisions on Colonization Law

Algeria's Senate has requested revisions to a recent law that declares France's colonization from 1830 to 1962 a crime. This request has created a legislative discord as it follows the lower house's unanimous approval of the bill on Sun, Dec 24, 2023, which demands an apology and reparations from France.

The lower house's vote classified the colonization as a crime with "legal responsibility," yet the Senate has expressed objections to specific articles, especially those concerning financial compensation. A joint committee is now required to reconcile the text, as the Senate cannot directly amend the legislation.

The disagreement centers on President Abdelmadjid Tebboune's position that Algeria seeks formal recognition of crimes, rather than financial restitution. He has stated that Algeria is "not tempted by money."

France has condemned the legislation as "clearly hostile," given the diplomatic tensions already existing due to France's support of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. The Algerian bill enumerates colonial crimes, including nuclear tests, extrajudicial killings, torture, and systematic resource plundering, while asserting that "full and fair compensation" is an "inalienable right."

Historical Disputes and Ongoing Accountability

The law references disputed historical figures, claiming the war resulted in 1.5 million Algerian deaths, a number contested by French historians who estimate 500,000 total deaths, including 400,000 Algerians. Although French President Emmanuel Macron has previously acknowledged colonization as a "crime against humanity," a formal apology from France has not been issued, leaving a century of trauma unresolved as Algeria's legislative process continues.

Based on reporting by Africanews.