lekehal mohamed
In recent years, the French public sphere has witnessed a noticeable rise in academic and political voices reopening the File of France’s colonial past in Algeria, adopting a more candid approach than in previous decades. Several French historians and researchers, including historian Benjamin Stora, have acknowledged the occurrence of serious violations during the colonial period, including mass killings, policies of famine, systematic repression, and highly controversial military practices.
Other scholars, such as Olivier Le Cour Grandmaison, have documented the use of harsh repressive methods and ethically questionable military tactics. France’s nuclear tests conducted in the Algerian Sahara during the 1960s have also generated sustained debate, particularly in the regions of Reggane and In Ekker, where their environmental and health consequences remain the subject of legal and moral scrutiny.
Despite these growing acknowledgments within French academic circles, the official political stance remains more cautious. French President Emmanuel Macron has, on several occasions, recognized that “crimes” were committed during the colonial era. However, he has stopped short of issuing a formal state apology, favoring instead an approach centered on what he calls “memorial reconciliation” rather than explicit legal acknowledgment—an approach that continues to spark criticism in Algeria and beyond.
The historical debate cannot be separated from the current geopolitical context. A number of French economic analysts point to a decline in France’s influence in Algeria over the past decade, alongside the rise of new strategic partners such as Russia and China, both of which have strengthened their presence in sectors including energy, infrastructure, and defense. Meanwhile, Italy has expanded its share of the Algerian market, particularly in the gas sector, filling part of the space once dominated by French companies.
In this context, statements by French political figures—including former advisers to ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy—have suggested that France now faces increasing competitive challenges in Algeria. They argue that the erosion of French influence is not merely the result of economic shifts, but also of an unbalanced management of the historical memory file and bilateral relations.
Notably, some French analyses have begun to emphasize Algeria’s possession of significant strategic leverage, whether through its geopolitical position in the Mediterranean and the Sahel, its energy resources, or its diversification of international partnerships. This reflects a broader transformation in the balance of relations—from a historically asymmetrical dynamic to one increasingly defined by parity and strategic recalibration.
Ultimately, Algerian-French relations appear to stand at a crossroads: between the necessity of addressing the colonial past with political clarity and courage, and the need to redefine an economic and strategic partnership based on mutual respect. The memory question is no longer merely symbolic; it has become an influential factor in shaping power calculations and interests on both shores of the Mediterranean.