Algiers – Africa stands at a critical juncture, poised to reclaim its historical dignity and address the enduring legacies of colonialism, according to Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf. The Minister made these remarks during the opening of an international conference on colonial crimes in Africa, held under the patronage of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
Attaf emphasized that the conference, an initiative proposed by President Tebboune at the recent African Union summit, reflects a growing continental consensus on the need to confront the past and secure a future based on justice and equality. He stated that Africa is entering a new era of awareness and commitment to dismantling the remnants of colonial rule and restoring the historical rights of its people.
“This meeting follows in the footsteps of our ancestors who resisted colonialism and transformed injustice into epic struggles for liberation,” Attaf declared. He asserted that Africa recognizes the imperative of addressing the effects of the colonial era to build a future founded on dignity, justice, and fairness. The launch of the historical justice project underscores the continent’s determination to continue its struggle until colonial crimes are explicitly and responsibly acknowledged.
Attaf firmly rejected the notion of colonialism as a civilizing mission, characterizing it instead as “plunder, theft, and predation” that interrupted the development of national states and prevented African people from exercising sovereignty over their own destinies. He emphasized that Africa’s collective memory recognizes colonialism as a primary cause of the continent’s exclusion from the political, economic, and scientific advancements of the world.
Drawing attention to Algeria’s own experience, Attaf highlighted it as a uniquely brutal example of colonial practice. He described French colonialism in Algeria as a complete form of settler colonialism, aimed not only at exploiting the land but also at erasing the national identity of the Algerian people. He affirmed that Algeria, drawing from this painful legacy, fully aligns with the African Union’s initiative for historical justice, advocating for recognition, accountability, and reparations for the damages inflicted by colonial rule.
Africa rightfully demands recognition, justice, and compensation.
