France: Granting of “war veteran” card to French soldiers who served in Algeria after independence

Following sustained leverage from a host of French MPs, the French authorities have formally decided to grant the card of “War Veterans” to those French soldiers who served in Algeria before and shortly after the country’s hard-won independence.

This status concerns those who stayed in independent Algeria until after July 1962, and who continued their presence in Algeria until 1 July 1964. 

These soldiers number approximately 80 thousand and will benefit from a recognition medal awarded by the French nation.

In line with French state’s laws and regulations, Article 123 of the 2004 Finance Act has allowed since 1 July 2004, the recognition of the status of war veterans when the latter totaled four months of presence on the territories concerned, without obligation to have belonged to a combat unit.

 The consideration of a period of 4 months of presence in these territories, considered equivalent to participation in the actions of fire or fight, was justified by the specificity of North African pro-independence conflicts marked by diffuse risk insecurity.

It should be emphasized that Article 109 of the 2014 Finance Act had the effect of extending the benefit of that measure to include war veteran status justifying a stay of the same duration including the date of July 2, 1962, which imposes they were present in North Africa including in Algeria before then.

 However, the possible allocation of the card of war veteran for those who served in Algeria until 1 July 1964 would mean that the state of war in that territory would have continued until that date, contrary to the historical truth.

Moreover, such a development would mean a misrepresentation of the same value of the card of war veteran disconnecting the actions of struggle and periods of war. 

Nevertheless, the military who were present in Algeria between 2 July 1962 and on 1 July 1964 have already secured special recognition. Pursuant to Article D. 266-1 of CPMIVG, they can indeed be subjected to warrant requirements, and seek the French Nation’s recognition title that opens their right to the holder of the Nation’s medal recognition, as well as to subscribe to a mutual pension and makes them citizens of the National Office of war veterans and victims of war.