Memory Day, Wednesday marks the anniversary of the massacres of May 8, 1945, in Algeria. The memorial file on the colonial era continues to be a subject of tension between France and Algeria
“The memorial file with France on the colonial era cannot be the subject of concessions or compromise and will remain at the heart of our concerns until its objective, bold, and equitable treatment about the historical truth,” affirmed the President Algerian, Abdelmadjid Tebboune in a message on the occasion of Memory Day, marking the anniversary of the massacres of May 8, 1945.
On this date, a parade in the city of Sétif (east) celebrating the victory of the Allies over Nazism transformed into a demonstration for “free and independent Algeria” and turned into a tragedy, triggering riots and repression by the forces. French attacks which will cause thousands of deaths.
While affirming “being ready to move towards the future in a climate of confidence”, President Tebboune considered that “credibility and seriousness are a fundamental requirement to complete the measures and efforts linked to this delicate and sensitive issue”. A joint commission of historians from the two countries is working on the file of the memory of the colonization of Algeria by France (1830-1962), a source of frequent tensions in relations between Algiers and Paris. This commission, created in 2022, is made up of ten French and Algerian historians and has already held four meetings.
At the beginning of February, she recommended placing plaques “in places of memory” in France where Algerians imprisoned at the start of colonization rest.
An upcoming state visit to France
The commission also reaffirmed the proposals made during their three previous meetings, including the restitution of archives of Algeria from the Ottoman era and that of “symbolic property” having belonged to Emir Abdelkader, including his sword and his Coran, exiled between 1848 and 1852 in Amboise (center).
An early presidential election is to be held on September 7 in Algeria, three months before the date initially planned. Mr. Tebboune, in power since 2019, has not yet announced whether he will seek a new mandate.
Before the announcement of the early vote, the Algerian presidency had indicated that Mr. Tebboune would make a state visit to France “at the end of September-beginning of October” which has been postponed many times due to diplomatic friction between the two countries, including on the issue. memorial.
