DZWatch Exclusive: The Algerian Parliament is preparing to vote on a groundbreaking bill criminalizing colonialism, DZWatch has learned.
The National People’s Assembly (APN) bureau is scheduled to review the draft law next Sunday before forwarding it to the relevant parliamentary committee. Sources indicate that the Speaker of the APN has informed the heads of parliamentary groups about the planned debate and vote, which is expected within the next two weeks.
The proposed legislation addresses the crimes committed during the 132 years of French colonial rule. A dedicated committee, formed in March 2025, has been working for a year to finalize the bill. This committee consolidated previous proposals submitted by parliamentarians since 2006, the year the first draft law criminalizing colonialism was introduced. This initial effort was largely a response to the controversial French law of 2005, which was seen by many as glorifying colonialism.
The current initiative follows numerous previous attempts to legislate on this issue, all of which ultimately failed. These earlier proposals were often stalled and remained unaddressed within the APN bureau. The current push represents a renewed effort to address the historical injustices of the colonial era and solidify Algeria’s commitment to remembering and acknowledging its past.
This is a developing story and DZWatch will continue to provide updates as they become available.
