Latest news with #Algerian-French
El Chorouk
07-07-2025
- Politics
- El Chorouk
De Villepin Criticizes Again: 'The Iron Fist Does Not Work With Algeria!'
Former French Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin, said that the strategy of the French authorities to recover the Franco-Algerian writer, sentenced in Algeria to five years in prison, failed, because the iron fist policy that Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, tried to practice is not effective with a country like Algeria. De Villepin, who is considered one of the brilliant French diplomats and who previously worked with former French President, Jacques Chirac, revealed a state of fragmentation suffered by decision-making institutions in Paris, calling for leaving the French President to work on the case of Sansal and journalist Christophe Glize, who was initially sentenced by the Algiers Court of First Instance to seven years in prison in a case related to terrorism. Two currents are vying for decision-making in France: the first is represented by French President, Emmanuel Macron, and Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, who cling to diplomacy as the only option, while Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau and Prime Minister François Bayrou tend towards escalation. It later became clear that the iron fist policy adopted by Retailleau had reached a dead end. The former foreign minister explained, wondering in an interview with the French news channel 'LCI' on Sunday night to Monday: 'Who can provide the fastest and best solution for the release of the two French prisoners from Algerian prisons? It is the President of the Republic and the government. A unified government does not do one thing and its opposite. Confusion leads to paying a heavy price. The President must be allowed to work, as he is the one who has communication with President Tebboune, and they are the ones who understand the right moment to revive the mechanism of bilateral cooperation.' He added: 'Today there are many files on the table, and these files involve complex disputes. These issues, including the Sansal case, must be raised,' stressing that the iron fist approach cannot yield results when it comes to intertwined and complex relations such as Algerian-French relations, due to considerations related to history and the wounds suffered by one party or the other. The French official hinted that the policy pursued by Interior Minister Retailleau is what exacerbated the situation and complicated the task of releasing Boualem Sansal, whose French attachment remains suspicious and questionable, as he only obtained citizenship for one year, in contrast to an incomprehensible silence regarding the fate of sports journalist Christophe Glize, whose prison term exceeded Sansal's sentence, which De Villepin expressed when he addressed the journalist who was only asking him about Sansal: 'We have two prisoners in Algeria, Boualem Sansal and sports journalist Christophe Glize.' In order to resolve the tense situation with Algeria, Dominique de Villepin called for a gesture towards Algeria to reduce tension and pave the way in the coming days and weeks. Despite the campaign against the French writer and historian, Jean-Michel Abati, when he spoke about massacres suffered by Algerians at the hands of the French occupation army, and said that they resembled the massacres of Nazi Germany, De Villepin shared Abati's opinion, and spoke about the burning operations carried out by the French General Bugeaud against Algeria in the early years of the occupation. The journalist asked him if he confirmed Jean-Michel Abati's description of the 'Oradour-sur-Glane' incident, to which De Villepin replied, 'When we besiege Algerians and burn them, the comparison becomes possible. I grew up near the Oradour-sur-Glane area, and I weigh my words carefully on this issue,' knowing that Michel Abati had been punished for those statements by 'RTL' radio, before the French audiovisual regulatory authority issued a comment criticizing those statements as well. De Villepin stressed: 'History must move out of the double standards. The 2005 law harmed many African peoples, as it glorifies colonial practices. We are at a time when we must respect the memory of others. Recognizing the suffering of others… A new page must be written so that what we are experiencing today with Algeria does not recur.'
El Chorouk
06-07-2025
- Politics
- El Chorouk
Benjamin Stora Reveals Secrets of the Memory File With Macron
French historian of Algerian origin, Benjamin Stora, revealed some of the secrets he shared with French President Emmanuel Macron over the course of nearly ten years. These exchanges, during which the resident of the Élysée Palace formulated his project on the Algerian-French memory file, were discussed. He also spoke, for the first time, about his grandfather's interests being targeted by figures from the Algerian Revolution. The French president began approaching the historian, who had worked on the Algerian-French memory issue for five decades, according to Stora, in a podcast in which the rector of the Paris Mosque, Chems Eddine Hafiz, played the role of the interviewer, as reported by the mosque on its X account. Stora said that the French president approached him in 2016 for consultations as an expert to search for ways to deal with the Algerian-French memory issue, which is considered one of the most sensitive, along with other issues. At the time, the French president was merely a potential candidate for the French presidential elections. He visited Algeria in February 2017 after submitting his candidacy. During that visit, he made an unprecedented statement about the French colonisation of Algeria, confirming that 'it is a crime against humanity'. However, he retracted these statements immediately upon his return to France, under pressure from the far right and those dreaming of a 'French Algeria.' The historian, who is highly respected by the Algerian authorities and was previously received by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, explained that he told Macron, who became French president in 2017, 'Since the story is very long, we must be patient.' He added that he also advised him to choose symbolic acts and proceed step by step. Stora's goal behind this 'step-by-step' policy was to expose the reality of the war and the colonial system to French society and younger generations. Algerians strongly criticised this policy, considering it a 'policy of distillation,' at a time when Algerians were demanding recognition and even an apology for French crimes over 132 years, a demand Paris continues to reject to this day. According to Benjamin Stora's testimony, the French president accepted the advice he offered, which led to his subsequent assignment to prepare the report on the memory of French colonialism in Algeria in January 2021. Benjamin Stora attempted to maintain an equitable distance between the Algerian and French sides, and he was criticised by both sides. The French side, the far right, considered him to have followed the ideas of the National Liberation Front, while the Algerians criticised him for not calling on Paris to apologise for its crimes during 132 years of destructive settlers' colonialism. However, Stora, speaking to the rector of the Paris Mosque, emphasised that his consultation was behind some of the French president's subsequent steps regarding memory. He noted that he suggested to Emmanuel Macron that the French state acknowledge its responsibility for the extrajudicial killing of many of the revolution's leaders and some of its French supporters. A reference here is to the forgiveness Macron offered, on behalf of the French state, to the family of mathematics professor and activist for the Algerian cause, Maurice Audin, lawyer and activist Ali Boumendjel, and martyred hero Larbi Ben M'hidi, all of whom were brutally liquidated by French occupation army paratroopers. This followed decades of denial and fabrication, with claims of suicide, as in the case of martyr Ben M'hidi. He also proposed that France honour Mouloud Feraoun's memory by placing a wreath on his grave. Among his unanswered proposals, Benjamin Stora regretted his failure in the case of revolutionary lawyer Gisèle Halimi, attributing the reason to the mobilisation of Harkis' sons and their signing of a petition against her admission to the Panthéon. He also revealed that President Tebboune was the one who suggested the establishment of a commission of historians from both sides. This commission made significant progress but was halted immediately after the French president's 'unfriendly' stance, siding with the Moroccan regime in the summer of 2024 regarding the Western Sahara issue. Stora expressed his hope that the Algerian-French Joint Commission would be able to resume its work, which could contribute to restoring the currently stalled relations. In testimony disclosed for the first time, Benjamin Stora revealed that he met with former minister and leader of the historic second wilaya, Abderrezak Bouhara, in 2002. The latter joked with him, saying, 'I have a debt to you that I must repay. I burned your grandfather's truck in Khenchela in 1956.' Benjamin Stora's grandfather was the mayor of Khenchela (eastern Algeria) during the liberation revolution.
El Chorouk
16-06-2025
- Politics
- El Chorouk
French Newspaper Refuses to Publish Article on Algeria by 'Impartial' Historian
Malika Rahal, a French historian and writer of Algerian origin, exposed the lie of freedom of expression in France, revealing a secret she had kept for about three months. However, she was forced to disclose it after realizing that the freedom of the press, so lauded in France, is merely a lie. Malika Rahal revealed that she was commissioned to write an article for the French newspaper 'Libération' at the same time the newspaper intended to prepare a file on Algerian-French relations, which are experiencing one of their worst periods in over six decades. However, this left-leaning newspaper, known for its centrism and criticism of right-wing ideas, withheld publication of the article for reasons that remain unclear. The writer and historian Malika Rahal stated: 'I was commissioned to write an article in mid-March 2025, as part of a file published in 'Libération' on relations between France and Algeria, a file coordinated by researcher Paul Max Morand. After the first version, I was asked to produce a longer version to conclude the series.' She added: 'During discussions with the editorial board, objections were raised, but the explanations provided were deemed satisfactory. Nevertheless, the publication of the article was continuously delayed, without any explanation given to Paul Max Morand, the person in charge of the file, or to me (Malika Rahal). Its publication has now become pointless after more than a month since the last article in the series was published in April 2025.' The writer was forced to publish her article in another platform known for its anti-colonial and anti-colonialist stances, after realizing that the French newspaper was not serious about honoring its commitment to a distinguished historian and writer of Malika Rahal's caliber. This raises more than one question about the remaining credibility of values that France and other Western system countries have long defended, namely freedom of expression and the press. 'Relations in the Time of Retailleau and Gaza' The French newspaper did not clarify the reason for its reluctance to publish the article, which was titled 'Algerian-French Relations in the Time of Retailleau and Gaza.' However, its content indicates that those in charge of 'Libération,' which is considered one of the strongholds of French media not hostile to Algeria and immigrants in general, are no longer as they once were. Instead, it has become like other French newspapers, controlled by considerations that have nothing to do with freedom of expression. Among what was stated in Malika Rahal's article: 'French-Algerian relations have been in crisis since 2024 when France, like the United States, joined in affirming Morocco's (alleged) sovereignty over Western Sahara. One of the elements explaining this recognition is the role played by Morocco in normalizing relations with Israel (the Zionist entity) at the African Union level and at the Arab world level, where Morocco joined the Abraham Accords in 2020. Undoubtedly, other factors in French policy contribute to this recognition, but since that date, the previous model of bilateral relations no longer seems to work, with more violent tensions and unexpected reactions from both sides. On the French side, the intensity of statements and belligerent stances is inconsistent with the recent development of French society, but conversely, their impact on the people of this country can be devastating.' It seems that the newspaper's management could not tolerate some of the 'stings' contained in the article, such as the role played by the French Minister of Interior in undermining the multi-ethnic and multi-religious French society due to his racist statements and stances, as well as the struggle led by Algerians against French occupation, which ended long decades of colonial darkness and became an inspiration for many peoples in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, as Malika Rahal wrote. The article also touched upon the nature of French settler colonialism in Algeria, and its transfer of the equivalent of one million Europeans (Pieds-Noirs), which was one-tenth of the Algerian population, and what accompanied it of 'the genocidal ambition to eliminate the indigenous population, which is a constant feature in cases of settler colonialism, as colonizers seek to seize their lands and impose their status in the country,' in addition to the forced displacement and massacres suffered by Algerians at the hands of the French occupation army, which was ultimately defeated with Algeria gaining its independence and ending the illegal situation that gave the European group what it did not deserve at the expense of the legitimate rights of Algerians.
El Chorouk
25-05-2025
- Politics
- El Chorouk
Retailleau ruined relations with Algeria, and the French colonization was brutal.
The French Press Agency (AFP) acted suspiciously in the interview it conducted with the French historian, Benjamin Stora, last Wednesday, focusing on a small aspect of the dialogue related to the role of memory in reviving relations between Algeria and France, while ignoring more important points concerning the heinous crimes of French colonialism in Algeria and the role of the far-right, represented by the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, in destroying the bridges of communication between the two countries. The French Press Agency summarized the interview in a brief dispatch that various French media outlets covered last Wednesday, while the full interview was only disseminated through the agency's YouTube channel on Saturday, May 24. The full interview was rich in details of great importance that the dispatch did not mention. It was striking in following the 'video dialogue,' which lasted for 35 minutes, the disappearance of many points that the French historian discussed regarding Algerian-French relations from the past and present, especially concerning the description of the occupation crimes during the initial period of colonization that lasted for eighty years, as well as the crisis instigated by the far-right to destroy the relations between Algeria and Paris. What Benjamin Stora said: 'The French colonization of Algeria cannot be considered a trivial matter, because it was a colonization unlike any other. There was a colonial invasion that lasted for eighty years. It was truly horrific; there were atrocious massacres that the French only discovered recently. Entire villages and cities were destroyed, and this cannot be ignored. There were burnings (the caves), forced relocations of Algerians from their land, and their confinement in camps.' He adds: 'These are painful memories in the history of Algerians that cannot be underestimated. Algeria was part of France, not just a protectorate like Morocco and Indochina. France's borders, until the 1960s, extended south to Mali, Niger, Libya, and Mauritania… The French believed it was impossible to abandon Algeria, which is rich in oil, gas, phosphate, and gold, which led some of the French people to consider Algeria's independence a betrayal.' General Charles de Gaulle was accused of committing this betrayal, and he was the target of assassination attempts several times until his death in 1970. As for the telegram reported by the French Press Agency last Wednesday (France Press), it focused on the role of memory in bridging the gap between the two countries. It quoted Stora: 'We need strong initiatives, especially regarding the issue of French colonization of Algeria in the 19th century. But today, in my opinion, considering the possibility of launching memory initiatives could serve as an alternative to resuming political relations,' which is 'necessary to resolve issues of immigration or visas.' The agency also overlooked an important aspect of the dialogue, which is the role of Algeria in driving rapprochement through memory. Benjamin Stora pointed out that the idea of creating a joint committee of Algerian and French historians originated in Algeria, and it was an initiative that should have been capitalized on. The historian emphasized that the committee cannot write a shared history because each side has its own perspective. The French consider colonialism as bringing civilization to Algeria, while the Algerians view it as the main reason for the killing of millions, the theft of their wealth, and their illiteracy. In the opinion of the French historian, progress on the memory front could have alleviated tensions through initiatives from the French president, which were embodied in Macron's acknowledgment that the French state is responsible for the assassination of Maurice Audin, Ali Boumendjel, and the martyr Arab Ben Mhidi. However, the controversial shift in the French stance on the Sahrawi issue led to the stifling of that initiative, which was proposed after its crystallization during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Algeria in the summer of 2022. He also accused France of making decisions that intensified the crisis, as it 'reduced the number of visas granted to Algerians without announcing it, from 400 to 200 or 250 thousand, and Algerians are aware of this. Requesting a visa from a holder of a diplomatic passport is considered reaching the brink of a break, which I don't think will happen because there are millions of people from both sides and shared ties of land and lineage.' Stora was asked if he would play the role of mediator to resolve the crisis between the two countries, to which he replied: 'The mediator must be accepted by both parties of the crisis. There is no search for a mediator. The crisis has reduced communication channels. I was indeed received by the two presidents in 2020 and 2021, but many things have changed today; we are in 2025.' He hinted that the French Minister of the Interior is responsible for the deterioration of these bilateral relations.
El Chorouk
23-05-2025
- Politics
- El Chorouk
Retailleau Behind the Leak of a Secret Report, Paris Mosque Warns
The Grand Mosque of Paris criticised the leaked report on the Muslim Brotherhood and the term 'political Islam' in France. The report was presented to French President Emmanuel Macron during a Defence and Security Council meeting. The mosque noted that the document would increase 'discrimination against Muslims and make them vulnerable to certain political agendas.' This report was revealed at a time when Algerian-French relations are experiencing an unprecedented crisis. It was also placed on the agenda of a meeting chaired by Macron and attended by his sovereign ministers: Prime Minister François Bayrou, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, and Justice Minister Gérald Moussa Darmanin. The Grand Mosque of Paris, led by Chemseddine Hafiz, issued a statement criticising the French authorities in light of the aforementioned report. It stated: 'The Grand Mosque of Paris recalls that it has always defended a vision of Islam consistent with the letter and spirit of the principles of the Republic. It condemns Islamic extremism, terrorism, and all manifestations of hatred expressed in the name of Islam.' The leading religious institution for Muslims in France stated: 'Since its founding in 1926, the Grand Mosque of Paris has worked to spread Islam rooted in the values of peace, fraternity, and solidarity, which blend harmoniously with republican principles and the diversity of our society. It symbolises the contribution Muslims have made to the history of France and supports their full citizenship. However, it also 'refuses to allow the legitimate fight against Islamism to become a pretext for stigmatising Muslims and serving particular political agendas.' The statement emphasises that 'the Grand Mosque of Paris wants to represent the voice of the majority of French Muslims who intend to live their faith in a dignified and peaceful manner. However, they are fabricating a problem targeting the Muslim community, accompanied by a malicious development of a growing discriminatory discourse against them.' The leaks related to the Muslim Brotherhood and political Islam in France sparked widespread condemnation among members of the Muslim community, who viewed them as a side effect of the campaign led by the right and the far right, led by Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau. This was evident in the minister's handling of the heinous crime that claimed the life of the young Malian, Aboubakar Cissé, and earlier in his refusal to accept an iftar meal invitation from the dean of the Grand Mosque of Paris. Observers linked Bruno Retailleau's victory as leader of the right-wing Republicans (LR) party to the leaks concerning the religious affairs sector under his tutelage. These leaks serve only the ambitions of the French Interior Minister, who is preparing to submit his candidacy for the presidential elections in two years. This is especially true given that he is now certain that his repeated hostile statements targeting Algeria played a significant role in his victory over his rival, Laurent Wauquiez. Since he was appointed Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau has formulated an anti-immigrant policy, a strategy he has used to attack Algeria by targeting its Muslim community. He is the one who invented what he called a 'gradual response,' which reached its peak last Thursday, when French government spokesperson Sophie Primas announced more than a week ago that the next step in the escalation against Algeria would target its community. It is possible that Macron's meeting with his ministers last Wednesday addressed the targeting of the Algerian community, according to the French government spokesperson. In the absence of any details about what transpired at this meeting, observers believe that Bruno Retailleau leaked the report targeting the Muslim community, marking the beginning of his use of this card in his political agenda. According to what the National People's Assembly member, Saad Laanani, representing the Algerians in the southern region of France, confirmed in a previous statement to 'Echorouk', that any decision targeting immigrants primarily targets the Algerian community, which is considered the largest in France. Therefore, the leaked report, although it targets what it calls the 'Muslim Brotherhood', in reality, aims to strike at the Algerian community, as confirmed by the French government spokesperson, Sophie Primas, on May 15th.
