Algeria’s parliament is set to vote on a bill that would formally declare France’s colonisation of the country a “state crime” and demand an official apology and reparations from Paris.
The proposed law comes amid worsening diplomatic relations between Algeria and France. Although largely symbolic, analysts say the move carries strong political significance and reinforces Algeria’s long-standing demand for historical accountability.
According to the draft bill, France bears legal responsibility for the suffering and tragedies caused during its colonial rule in Algeria. Parliament Speaker Brahim Boughali described the initiative as a sovereign act, stressing that Algeria’s national memory is neither erasable nor negotiable.
France ruled Algeria from 1830 until independence in 1962, a period marked by repression, mass killings, and forced displacement. The relationship between the two countries remains strained, largely due to differing interpretations of colonial history and the Algerian war of independence from 1954 to 1962.
Algerian authorities estimate that about 1.5 million people were killed during the war, while French historians put the figure at around 500,000 deaths, including roughly 400,000 Algerians.
French President Emmanuel Macron has previously described the colonisation of Algeria as a crime against humanity but has stopped short of issuing a formal apology, a stance that continues to frustrate Algerian officials.
Responding to the planned vote, a spokesperson for France’s foreign ministry declined to comment on political debates in other countries.
Historians note that while the proposed law has no legal force internationally and is not binding on France, it represents a significant symbolic shift and highlights a deepening rift between the two nations over issues of memory and responsibility.
