Algeria Declares French Colonial Rule a Crime in New Law, Demands Official Apology

Algeria has intensified pressure on France over its colonial past after parliament adopted a new law declaring French rule between 1830 and 1962 a “major crime,” formally renewing calls for an official apology from Paris.

The legislation criminalises actions carried out during the colonial period, including chemical experiments, nuclear tests, enforced disappearances, the desecration of bodies, and the continued retention of Algerian human remains in France. Algerian media reports say the law is aimed at documenting abuses committed under colonial rule and establishing the responsibility of the French state.

Under the new framework, penalties would also be introduced against the glorification or justification of colonialism. Lawmakers described the move as part of a broader effort to protect Algeria’s national memory and promote historical accountability, while framing it as a step toward long-term reconciliation based on recognition of past injustices.

France colonised Algeria in 1830 and ruled the country for 132 years, a period marked by widespread repression and resistance. Algeria’s war of independence, which began in 1954 and ended in 1962, claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and remains a deeply sensitive issue in both countries. While France has acknowledged certain abuses, it has stopped short of issuing a formal apology, a position that has long strained bilateral relations.

Relations between Algiers and Paris have fluctuated in recent years, with periodic diplomatic tensions over migration, visas, security cooperation, and historical memory. Algeria has repeatedly demanded greater recognition of colonial-era crimes, including accountability for nuclear tests conducted by France in the Sahara during the late 1950s and early 1960s.

French officials have not yet issued an official response to the new law. Analysts say the legislation is likely to further complicate ties between the two countries, even as they continue to cooperate on trade, energy, and counterterrorism efforts in North Africa and the Sahel.