Algeria’s parliament has unanimously passed a law declaring France’s colonisation of the country a crime, formally demanding an apology and reparations from Paris in a move that has further strained relations between the two nations.
Lawmakers erupted in chants of “long live Algeria” as the bill was approved, with many standing and wearing scarves in the national colours. The legislation states that France bears legal responsibility for its colonial rule and the tragedies inflicted on Algeria during that period.
Although largely symbolic, analysts say the vote carries strong political weight, coming at a time of heightened diplomatic tension between Algiers and Paris. Parliament Speaker Brahim Boughali said the law sends a clear message that Algeria’s national memory “is neither erasable nor negotiable.”
The bill outlines what it describes as crimes of French colonisation, including nuclear tests, extrajudicial killings, physical and psychological torture, and the systematic plundering of resources. It also insists that full compensation for material and moral damages is an inalienable right of the Algerian people.
France condemned the move as hostile, warning that it could undermine efforts to revive dialogue on historical issues. A French foreign ministry spokesperson said Paris would not comment on Algeria’s internal politics but pointed to ongoing historical research initiatives launched under President Emmanuel Macron.
France ruled Algeria from 1830 to 1962, a period marked by mass violence and a brutal war of independence. While Algeria says 1.5 million people were killed, French historians estimate a lower figure. Macron has previously described the colonisation as a crime against humanity but has stopped short of issuing a formal apology.
Historians note that while the law is not legally binding on France, its symbolic impact is significant, signalling a deeper rupture in how both countries engage with their shared and painful past.
