At the intersection of memories and history, a commission of Franco-Algerian historians has undertaken a journey toward memorial reconciliation. The members of this commission, meeting in Constantine, developed an 11-point memorandum that could redefine relations between the two countries. In this article, we will delve into the details of these proposals and their historical significance.
At the Confluence of History and Memory
The Algerian-French Joint Commission on Colonization and Memory met this week in Constantine, Algeria, for a historic meeting. The city of Constantine, a symbol of the colonial past and cradle of many repatriates from Algeria at independence, offers a setting full of symbols for this meeting. Benjamin Stora, the historian at the head of the panel on the French side, is himself from this city.
Five French historians, including Tramor Quemeneur, Jacques Fremeaux, Florence Hudowicz, and Jean-Jacques Jordi, were appointed by President Emmanuel Macron in January 2023. On the Algerian side, five eminent historians, including Mohamed El Korso, Mohamed Lahcen Zighidi, Djamel Yahiaoui, Idir Hachi, and Abdelaziz Filali were chosen by Abdelmadjid Tebboune. The creation of this commission was decided jointly by the two presidents following Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Algeria in August 2022.
A Reconciliation Project
Benjamin Stora’s report on “The Memory of Colonization and the Algerian War,” submitted in January 2021 to Emmanuel Macron, served as the basis for the creation of this commission. This report contains concrete proposals to move towards a “reconciliation of memories. »
The mission of the commission is clear: to explore the entire historical period from colonization to the war of liberation, without taboos, and with full access to the archives. Politics is put aside in favor of free and historical work. The objective is to shed light on the kidnappings from Oran in July 1962 and to revisit the common history of the two countries.
Towards a Shared Memory Future
After a first videoconference meeting last April, the historians met in person in Constantine on November 22 for an intense day of work. From now on, the panel will meet every two months, alternately in Algeria and France. This approach reinforces the commitment to memorial reconciliation.
Academic exchanges will be intensified, with around fifteen Algerian historians and as many of their French counterparts soon visiting the two respective countries. This will enable knowledge sharing and a deeper understanding of common history.
Key Propositions
The 11-point memorandum drawn up by the commission contains key proposals. First, historians will work to establish a detailed chronology of military, political, economic, social, and cultural events that occurred between 1830 and 1962.
A major project is the creation of a common library of research and printed or manuscript sources in the 19th century. This library will serve as a basis for editing, digitizing, and translating the most important sources, with the possibility of returning them to Algeria. A digital portal similar to Gallica will be created to facilitate access to printed sources, digitized archives, cartography, iconography, sound and film resources, as well as the chronology of this historical period.
Restitution and Memory
The question of restitution also occupies a central place. The commission recommends the restitution to Algiers of twenty-nine scrolls and thirteen registers from the Ottoman period, as well as that of 2 million digitized documents linked to the colonial period, from 1830 to the end of the 19th century. Historians also propose the restitution of two skulls of Algerians killed during the revolts of the 19th century, as well as the continued identification of human remains returnable to Algeria.
This gesture of restitution carries a desire to soothe memories and reestablish a certain historical justice. In July 2020, France had already returned the remains of 24 Algerian resistance fighters killed during the 19th century, marking a first step towards reconciliation.
A Shared Heritage
The commission also wishes to return property to Algiers that belonged to Emir Abdelkader, the first leader of the resistance. Among these goods, were the saber, the burnous, and the Koran of the emir, who capitulated in 1847 after a war of seventeen years. These symbolic objects bear witness to the complex history and links between France and Algeria.
The visit to Amboise Castle, where Emir Abdelkader was detained from 1848 to 1852, is planned during President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s visit to France. This major stage of the journey reinforces the importance of these historical objects.
Conclusion
The commission of Franco-Algerian historians has taken the first significant step toward the reconciliation of memories. These proposals are not simply symbolic gestures, they open the way to a better understanding of the common history, marked by colonization.
The willingness to work on a historical basis, open archives, and share knowledge is a positive sign. However, this process will require time and constant efforts to achieve a complete memorial reconciliation between Algeria and France.
This 11-point memorandum represents an opportunity to build a future where history is understood, shared and accepted by all, with respect for truth and justice. It is now up to Presidents Macron and Tebboune to decide the next steps in this journey towards memorial reconciliation, a journey that could well shape the future of Franco-Algerian relations.
