Minister of Mujahideen and Rights Holders Abdelmalek Tachrifet stated on Thursday in Adrar province that the French nuclear explosions in Reggane represent a “heinous crime that shook both humanity and the land, committed by colonial France.”
During his speech marking the 66th anniversary of the French nuclear explosions “Reggane, February 13, 1960,” Tachrifet emphasized that the occasion is not merely a passing historical event but a reminder of a heinous crime. He noted that the first nuclear explosion on February 13, 1960, followed by subsequent surface and underground tests, constituted a dark chapter in the genocide pursued by colonial forces throughout their 132-year presence.
The minister added that while the colonial forces intended for the Great Sahara to become a graveyard, the resilience of the Algerian people transformed it into a symbol of sacrifice and loyalty. He stressed that French colonial crimes in Reggane and across Algeria are crimes that are not subject to the statute of limitations and cannot be erased or overlooked.
Tachrifet further asserted that all attempts to distort facts or whitewash these crimes would only strengthen national memory. He stated that such attempts would always be met by a living collective consciousness that refuses to forget or compromise, ensuring the preservation of the nation’s heritage.
Addressing the post-independence generation, the minister said that the sacrifices of their ancestors in these regions provide the highest meanings of cohesion. He concluded by stating that loyalty to the values of the martyrs and the principles of the November Revolution is demonstrated through national unity, support for state institutions, and the constant defense of the homeland.
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