Relations between Algeria and France have entered a new phase of escalation after the Algerian parliament unanimously approved, on Wednesday, a law criminalizing French colonialism and demanding official apologies and full reparations from Paris for the colonial period. France quickly reacted by describing the move as “hostile,” warning that it could further complicate the already strained diplomatic relations between the two countries.
According to Le Monde, the newly adopted law holds the French state legally responsible for what Algeria describes as “crimes of colonialism” committed between 1830 and 1962. These crimes are defined as not subject to any statute of limitations and include mass killings, repressive policies, systematic plundering of resources, and nuclear tests carried out in the Algerian Sahara.
The legislation also calls for the restitution of Algeria’s national archives transferred to France, the return of looted cultural property and the remains of resistance fighters, as well as obliging Paris to clean up nuclear test sites and disclose maps showing the burial locations of toxic waste. It further demands official recognition of victims and their families as holders of legal rights.
French media reports indicate that the law includes a punitive component that criminalizes any justification or glorification of French colonialism, whether in the media, academic publications, or digital platforms. Violators could face prison sentences ranging from five to ten years, in addition to financial fines.
In response, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the Algerian move as a “clearly hostile initiative,” arguing that it runs counter to efforts aimed at resuming calm dialogue and constructive engagement on historical memory issues between the two countries, according to BFMTV.
Despite this strong reaction, Paris reaffirmed its willingness to continue working toward relaunching a “demanding dialogue” with Algeria, particularly on shared priorities such as security cooperation and migration, in an attempt to contain the fallout from the decision.
Legal experts quoted by French newspapers noted that while the Algerian law carries significant political and symbolic weight, it lacks direct international legal enforceability. Nevertheless, they argue that it represents a “clear rupture” in Algeria’s approach to colonial memory and its relationship with France.
This latest development comes amid an unprecedented diplomatic crisis that erupted after France recognized, in the summer of 2024, Morocco’s autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty as a solution to the Sahara dispute—a move that angered Algeria and deepened tensions with Paris.
The crisis has been further fueled by disputes over migration and security cooperation, alongside recurring political and media tensions that have revived debates over the colonial past. However, several media reports suggest that Algeria’s latest step is driven primarily by France’s recent positions on the Moroccan Sahara issue.
