Benjamin Stora, who submitted his report on "the memories of colonization and the Algerian war" on January 20 to President Emmanuel Macron, says that the decision to present a formal apology from France to Algeria is within the domain of "politics".

He calls instead to focus on "practical work" which reconciles memories in the two countries.

The historian regrets the criticisms leveled against his report in Algeria and the absence of an official reaction from Algiers.

He also calls on Algerian President Abdelmadjdid Tebboune to speak in order to initiate a dynamic that allows concrete progress on subjects such as the opening of archives, the missing and education.

According to him, the recognition by France of the assassination of the Algerian nationalist lawyer Ali Boumendjel would be a strong gesture, which would make it possible to embody the events, as when Emmanuel Macron admitted the responsibility of France in the death of the pro activist. -FLN Maurice Audin.

Benjamin Stora also calls for more efforts on the part of the French and Algerian authorities to identify the victims of French nuclear tests in the Sahara and possibly compensate them, adding that the same effort should be made regarding the use of napalm by the French army. 

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