The French leader, Emmanuel Macron, announced Thursday in Algiers, in a statement made alongside Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune, the creation of a joint commission of Algerian and French historians who will have the task of carrying out a work of memory on the colonial past that binds the two countries.
According to his words, the common decision to set up this “mixed commission of historians” is to “look at the whole of this historical period which is decisive for us, from the beginning of colonization to the war of liberation, without taboo, with a desire for free, historical work, full access to our archives”.
“We have a common past, it is complex, painful and it could sometimes prevent us from looking at the future”, underlined Macron, who invited us to “look in the face with great humility” at this past.
Continuing his remarks, Macron also affirmed that “the past, we did not choose it, we inherit it, it is a block, we must look at it, recognize it, but we have a responsibility, it is to build our future for ourselves and our youth”.
The vision of the Elysée tenant is that France is opening “a new page” in its relations with Algeria, knowing that French colonization in Algeria has so far been a major source of tension between the two countries.
Macron will stay in Algeria from August 25 to 27. His trip comes about a month after the celebration of the 60th anniversary of Algeria’s independence.
By OMA Newsletter N° 840 of 08/26/2022
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
