Renowned French historian Benjamin Stora has reiterated the critical need for France to formally acknowledge its colonial crimes committed in Algeria. Stora emphasized the massacres perpetrated against Algerians and the expropriation of their land as key elements of this historical reckoning. He noted that certain factions within the French political establishment continue to dispute this dark chapter of history.
Speaking on Algerian international television, Stora, who has previously faced criticism from the French far-right for his anti-colonial stance on historical memory, stressed the importance of building bridges between the two nations through collaborative historical work. He referenced Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s initiative to establish a joint Algerian-French commission dedicated to history and memory.
Reflecting on the brutal French colonial period in Algeria (1830-1962), Stora described it as a time marked by the systematic dispossession of Algerian lands, the plundering of resources, and the commission of atrocities. He characterized these acts as crimes against humanity, lamenting the fact that these truths are largely absent from French school textbooks.
Stora also addressed the attacks he has faced from certain political circles in France, particularly from the far-right, who seek to downplay France’s colonial past and its crimes in Algeria. He stated that these groups are those who “refuse to acknowledge the massacres committed against Algerians and the nuclear tests conducted” in the country.
“Now we must see what we can do to set things right and reveal the truth about the French occupation of Algeria,” Stora concluded. His call underscores the ongoing effort to achieve a comprehensive and honest reckoning with the past, fostering a more informed and equitable relationship between Algeria and France.
