Algeria opens debate on draft law to criminalize French colonial rule

(MENAFN) The Algerian parliament began discussions on Saturday regarding a draft law that would criminalize French colonial rule in the country from 1830 to 1962, according to official statements from the People’s National Assembly.

Speaker Ibrahim Boughali was authorized to formally present the proposal during a plenary session of the lower house. Addressing lawmakers, Boughali described the bill as more than a legislative initiative, calling it a landmark moment for modern Algeria that reflects the state’s dedication to national memory and historical accountability.

"This session is not a routine parliamentary procedure; rather, it is a supreme act of sovereignty, a clear moral stance, and an unambiguous political message, expressing Algeria’s commitment to its inalienable rights and its loyalty to the sacrifices of its people and the message of its martyrs," Boughali said.

He highlighted the destructive nature of France’s colonization, describing it as a systematic effort to displace and subjugate the Algerian population. Land was confiscated from local owners and given to settlers, while policies of impoverishment, starvation, and social exclusion aimed to undermine Algerian identity and sever ties to the country’s historical and cultural roots, he added.

The draft law is scheduled for a parliamentary vote on Wednesday, alongside other legislative measures.

The debate emerges amid heightened tensions in Algeria-France relations, which intensified following Paris’s recognition of Morocco’s autonomy plan for resolving the Western Sahara dispute.

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