The revelations made by the Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs to Al Jazeera revealed new developments in the memorial file between Algeria and France.
The Qatari channel broadcast comments by Ahmed Attaf on its Atheer platform, this time raising the issue of nuclear tests carried out by France in the Algerian Sahara between 1960 and 1966.
The full interview given by the head of Algerian diplomacy to the journalist, also Algerian, Khadidja Benguenna, will be broadcast soon.
French nuclear tests: Algeria wants “recognition”
In the sequences revealed so far, Attaf discussed relations with Morocco, the memorial dispute with France, and terrorism in the Sahel.
The Algerian minister notably revealed that as part of the preparation for President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s visit to Paris, Algeria requested the return of symbolic objects that belonged to Emir Abdelkader, his burnous and his sword among others, which request was not accepted by the French side.
On the Atheer sur X platform page, new comments from Ahmed Attaf were revealed, this time without being accompanied by a video.
The Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs indicated regarding the nuclear tests that Algeria is demanding recognition and compensation.
“ We demand recognition of the damage caused by these nuclear tests in the Sahara and we demand compensation,” declared Ahmed Attaf.
The first French nuclear test, called Operation Gerboise Bleue, took place on February 13, 1960, in the Reggane region. A 70-kiloton bomb had been tested (the Hiroshima bomb was only 12 kilotons). This test allowed France to become a nuclear power officially.
In total, 17 tests were carried out in the Algerian Sahara, including after the signing of the Evian Accords in March 1962.
These nuclear tests contaminated the entire region and caused irreversible damage to the inhabitants. The radioactive cloud of Blue Jerboa had reached neighboring African countries and the coasts of Spain and Sicily.
Terrorism in the Sahel: Algeria sounds the alarm
The Atheer platform has posted another short video in which Ahmed Attaf sounds the alarm on the rise of terrorism in the Sahel.
“ The Sahel is made up of the poorest countries on the planet and the countries most affected by regime changes through non-constitutional means. There have been 8 coups or putsch attempts in the last two years,” the Algerian minister said.
It is also a region where there is a proliferation of the phenomenon of terrorism. “ We are no longer talking about terrorist groups but about armies of terrorists. Their numbers are increasing, as are the territories they control.
“ Last July, a United Nations report indicated that terrorist groups have doubled in one year the territories they control in Mali,” recalled Ahmed Attaf.
Even more worrying, these groups now have sophisticated weapons which “ come mainly from Libya ”, he added.
These declarations come in a context marked by the deterioration of relations between Algeria and Mali. Both countries recalled their respective ambassadors. The crisis broke out because Bamako did not appreciate Malian opponents being received in Algeria.
