Can Algeria bring back to its soil the historical and symbolic objects that it demands from France? While discussions have opened between the two countries, the situation appears to be very complex.

Monday, May 27, the commission which brings together French and Algerian historians met for the fifth time. This time, Algeria has sent France a list of symbolic goods that it wishes to see returned to its soil. These historical objects are today exhibited in French museums.

1. What are the assets concerned?

According to Le Figaro, the objects claimed by Algeria are centered around the figure of Emir Abdelkader, a great military leader who died in 1883, and “emblematic of the resistance to the French conquest of Algeria”. It is a “command tent”, and a saber, both kept at the Condé museum in Chantilly. But also a command emblem, a pair of spurs, a pistol, or a burnous (large wool coat), held by the Army Museum in Paris.

These objects are recorded in an “open list of historical and symbolic goods from 19th century Algeria”. On Monday, the French historians of the mixed commission, whose creation was announced by Emmanuel Macron in 2022, committed to “transmit to President Emmanuel Macron the list transmitted by the Algerian side, so that the goods which can find their land of “origin can be as quickly as possible,” adds the commission press release.

2. Why does their return look so complicated?

Problem: in France, goods kept in national museums are part of inalienable and imprescriptible collections. They cannot therefore be sold or transferred. Another pitfall for Algeria: the collection presented at the Condé museum in Chantilly was bequeathed by the Duke of Aumale to the Institut de France, on the condition that no piece leaves the castle.

3. What solution is put forward by historians?

To return these goods to Algeria, a law would therefore be necessary authorizing the restitution of cultural property, explains Le Figaro, who recalls that Rachida Dati spoke out in favor of this law in January. A text should be examined in Parliament in the fall. While waiting for the latter to be voted on and applied, Benjamin Stora, French historian, and co-president of the commission, recommends setting up donations or long-term loans between the two countries.

4. Why is this subject so central?

This subject is not anecdotal. It is even an important issue in the relationship between France and Algeria. In December, the Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Attaf, indicated that the postponement of the Algerian president’s state visit to France depended on the resolution of several issues, including that of memory. Ahmed Attaf had notably criticized the refusal of the French authorities to return the burnous and the sword of Emir Abdelkader.

On May 7, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared that  “the issue of memory cannot be the subject of concessions or compromise, and will remain at the heart of our concerns until its objective, bold and equitable treatment towards historical truth.

During a visit to Algeria in the summer of 2022, Emmanuel Macron and Abdelmadjid Tebboune recognized a “complex, painful” past common to the two countries and encouraged the commission to “look at this entire historical period”, “from the beginning of colonization to the war of liberation, without taboo, with a desire […] for complete access to our archives”. A long work begins.

Algeria Demands Historical Property From France: 4 Questions on This Burning Memorial Issue

Can Algeria bring back to its soil the historical and symbolic objects that it demands from France? While discussions have opened between the two countries, the situation appears to be very complex.

Monday, May 27, the commission which brings together French and Algerian historians met for the fifth time. This time, Algeria has sent France a list of symbolic goods that it wishes to see returned to its soil. These historical objects are today exhibited in French museums.

1. What are the assets concerned?

According to Le Figaro, the objects claimed by Algeria are centered around the figure of Emir Abdelkader, a great military leader who died in 1883, and “emblematic of the resistance to the French conquest of Algeria”. It is a “command tent”, and a saber, both kept at the Condé museum in Chantilly. But also a command emblem, a pair of spurs, a pistol, or a burnous (large wool coat), held by the Army Museum in Paris.

These objects are recorded in an “open list of historical and symbolic goods from 19th century Algeria”. On Monday, the French historians of the mixed commission, whose creation was announced by Emmanuel Macron in 2022, committed to “transmit to President Emmanuel Macron the list transmitted by the Algerian side, so that the goods which can find their land of “origin can be as quickly as possible,” adds the commission press release.

2. Why does their return look so complicated?

Problem: in France, goods kept in national museums are part of inalienable and imprescriptible collections. They cannot therefore be sold or transferred. Another pitfall for Algeria: the collection presented at the Condé museum in Chantilly was bequeathed by the Duke of Aumale to the Institut de France, on the condition that no piece leaves the castle.

3. What solution is put forward by historians?

To return these goods to Algeria, a law would therefore be necessary authorizing the restitution of cultural property, explains Le Figaro, who recalls that Rachida Dati spoke out in favor of this law in January. A text should be examined in Parliament in the fall. While waiting for the latter to be voted on and applied, Benjamin Stora, French historian, and co-president of the commission, recommends setting up donations or long-term loans between the two countries.

4. Why is this subject so central?

This subject is not anecdotal. It is even an important issue in the relationship between France and Algeria. In December, the Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Attaf, indicated that the postponement of the Algerian president’s state visit to France depended on the resolution of several issues, including that of memory. Ahmed Attaf had notably criticized the refusal of the French authorities to return the burnous and the sword of Emir Abdelkader.

On May 7, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared that  “the issue of memory cannot be the subject of concessions or compromise, and will remain at the heart of our concerns until its objective, bold and equitable treatment towards historical truth.

During a visit to Algeria in the summer of 2022, Emmanuel Macron and Abdelmadjid Tebboune recognized a “complex, painful” past common to the two countries and encouraged the commission to “look at this entire historical period”, “from the beginning of colonization to the war of liberation, without taboo, with a desire […] for complete access to our archives”. A long work begins.

Monday, May 27, the commission which brings together French and Algerian historians met for the fifth time. This time, Algeria has sent France a list of symbolic goods that it wishes to see returned to its soil. These historical objects are today exhibited in French museums.

1. What are the assets concerned?

According to Le Figaro, the objects claimed by Algeria are centered around the figure of Emir Abdelkader, a great military leader who died in 1883, and “emblematic of the resistance to the French conquest of Algeria”. It is a “command tent”, and a saber, both kept at the Condé Museum in Chantilly. But also a command emblem, a pair of spurs, a pistol, or a burnous (large wool coat), held by the Army Museum in Paris.

These objects are recorded in an “open list of historical and symbolic goods from 19th century Algeria”. On Monday, the French historians of the mixed commission, whose creation was announced by Emmanuel Macron in 2022, committed to “transmit to President Emmanuel Macron the list transmitted by the Algerian side, so that the goods which can find their land of “origin can be as quickly as possible,” adds the commission press release.

2. Why does their return look so complicated?

Problem: in France, goods kept in national museums are part of inalienable and imprescriptible collections. They cannot therefore be sold or transferred. Another pitfall for Algeria: the collection presented at the Condé museum in Chantilly was bequeathed by the Duke of Aumale to the Institut de France, on the condition that no piece leaves the castle.

3. What solution is put forward by historians?

To return these goods to Algeria, a law would therefore be necessary authorizing the restitution of cultural property, explains Le Figaro, who recalls that Rachida Dati spoke out in favor of this law in January. A text should be examined in Parliament in the fall. While waiting for the latter to be voted on and applied, Benjamin Stora, French historian, and co-president of the commission, recommends setting up donations or long-term loans between the two countries.

4. Why is this subject so central?

This subject is not anecdotal. It is even an important issue in the relationship between France and Algeria. In December, the Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Attaf, indicated that the postponement of the Algerian president’s state visit to France depended on the resolution of several issues, including that of memory. Ahmed Attaf had notably criticized the refusal of the French authorities to return the burnous and the sword of Emir Abdelkader.

On May 7, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared that  “the issue of memory cannot be the subject of concessions or compromise, and will remain at the heart of our concerns until its objective, bold and equitable treatment towards historical truth.

During a visit to Algeria in the summer of 2022, Emmanuel Macron and Abdelmadjid Tebboune recognized a “complex, painful” past common to the two countries and encouraged the commission to “look at this entire historical period”, “from the beginning of colonization to the war of liberation, without taboo, with a desire […] for complete access to our archives”. A long work begins.