France Obstructs Research In Its Somber Colonial History In Algeria

The French Government approved an unpublished decision to extend the secrecy of documents of the Ministry of Defense, which will hide part of its somber colonial history in Algeria, including the vexed nuclear test file in Reggane.

Thousands of historians and researchers revealed the decision in mid-January, according to what was recently published by “Ouest France” newspaper, after they submitted a request to the French State Council to reconsider the decision because it impedes the writing of contemporary history.

Historians and researchers were waiting for the Ministry of Defense to declassify documents relating to the period from 1934 to 1970.

The French law provides for the lifting of secrecy of all documents after 50 years, with the exception of sensitive ones that may pose a threat to French national security.

The French state ratified the decision on November 13th, without this attracting enough attention from the media, but on the other hand it attracted the attention of historians and researchers, especially the Algerians, after they believed that the years 2020 and 2021 would constitute a turning point for viewing historical documents.

Among the factors that pushed France to adopt this decision, researchers from Algeria began digging into the colonial files to find out about France’s “trash” in its former colonies.

The decision coincides with the phenomenon of the Maghreb countries recovering their historical memory and the start of accountability for France for the horrendous crimes of colonialism.