Algeria fuels feud with France, approves law to declares colonisation ‘a crime’

Key Highlights

• The vote followed a recent collective push by African nations seeking acknowledgment and reparations for abuses committed during the colonial era. More from World Not ceding’ Matthew, Hunter islands to Vanuatu: France denies Le Pen’s charge against Macron France will replace Charles de Gaulle ship with new carrier, Macron tells Gulf troopsThe legislation applies to the period beginning with the arrival of King Charles X’s forces at Sidi Ferruch, west of Algiers, in 1830, and ending with Algeria’s independence on July 5, 1962. Under the law, France would be required to return Algerian archives and assets transferred during colonial rule, hand over detailed maps of nuclear tests carried out in Algeria between 1960 and 1966, and facilitate the return of the remains of certain Algerian resistance fighters taken to France. The law stipulates prison sentences for any action by an Algerian celebrating French colonialism, for attacks on symbols of the Algerian resistance, and “remarks with colonial connotations.”Quick ReadsView AllNvidia backs away from direct cloud fight with Amazon, Google and MicrosoftOil ‘quarantine’ Venezuela for at least two months: Trump’s new order to US militaryFrance is unlikely to heed the demands in the law. The law is “a manifestly hostile initiative,” the French Foreign Ministry spokesperson’s office said in a statement to The Associated Press.
• It noted efforts under French President Emmanuel Macron to address colonial-era grievances, and added: “We continue to work toward the renewal of dialogue,” notably about security and migration issues. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADMacron, in 2017, described elements of France’s history in Algeria as a crime against humanity, but stopped short of an official apology.
• Meanwhile, the resurgent far right in France celebrates colonialists. The economic cost of colonialism in Africa is believed to be staggering.
• Algeria suffered some of the most brutal forms of French colonial rule. Nearly a million European settlers held greater political, economic and social privileges, even though Algeria was legally part of France and its men were conscripted in World War II.
• Hundreds of thousands died in Algeria’s revolution, during which French forces tortured detainees, disappeared suspects and devastated villages as part of a counterinsurgency strategy to maintain their grip on power. Huge Algerian flags adorned the lower house of parliament as speaker Mohamed Boughali delivered his opening address Wednesday.“Today, December 24, 2025, is a historic day, to be written in letters of gold in the national narrati.