Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Sunday strongly criticised France for the lingering effects of its colonial rule in his country.
This came during an address to the nation before both houses of parliament in which he outlined the achievements of his first presidential term 2019-2024 and outlined his programme for his second term, which began in September.
Tebboune said Algeria demands that France recognise its crimes committed during the 1830-1962 colonial period, stressing that the country does not demand material compensation. He also added:
“We are pursuing the dignity of our ancestors. The number of Algerian martyrs throughout the 132 years of colonisation is 5.6 million, and no amount of money can compensate for the loss of even one martyr during the resistance or armed struggle.”
His words came against the backdrop of an acute political crisis between Algeria and France, which led to the recall of the Algerian ambassador and the summoning of the French ambassador.
Algerian authorities attributed this escalation to “hostile acts committed by French foreign intelligence on Algerian soil.”
Tebboune also recalled the atrocities committed by the French colonial army, especially under the leadership of General Thomas Robert Bugeaud, Governor General of Algeria between 1841 and 1847, which he called “genocide.” He reiterated his willingness to sort out colonial-era affairs with France and noted that France still holds 500 skulls of Algerians beheaded in the 19th century and taken to Paris. he also anoted:
“So far we have only managed to recover 24 skulls.”
On the domestic front, Tebboune announced plans to start a dialogue with political parties early next year “to strengthen state independence and internal unity.” He said the dialogue, whose exact start date has not been given, will be “inclusive and deep” and will result in the adoption of new laws regulating political parties and associations.
