Franco-Algerian Commission on Colonization and the War in Algeria: France has in turn appointed its experts
French President Emmanuel Macron and his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune, at Algiers airport, August 25, 2022. We now know the names of the ten historians who are members of the joint commission whose creation was announced during the president's visit French in Algiers, to work on French colonization and the war in Algeria.
AFP - LUDOVIC MARIN
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
Emmanuel Macron and Abdelmadjid Tebboune had announced it last August: a mixed commission of historians called to work on French colonization and the war in Algeria was about to see the light of day.
After months of discussions, it is now done.
Five French historians have just been appointed to take part.
They will have to work together with five Algerian historians, named them in November by Algiers.
Advertising
Read more
It is Benjamin Stora who will co-chair this joint commission alongside Mohamed Lahcen Zeghidi, the former director of the National Mujahid Museum.
Alongside Benjamin Stora, Tramor Quémeneur, a specialist in the Algerian war, will serve as secretary general.
Also named: Jacques Frémeaux who worked on the French conquest of Algeria by France, Jean-Jacques Jordi who wrote about the Europeans of Algeria and Florence Hudowicz, chief curator of heritage and co-curator of the exhibition on the
Emir Abdelkader at the Mucem in Marseille in the spring of 2022
.
All will be called upon to work together with the five Algerian historians appointed in November by Algiers: Mohamed El Korso, Idir Hachi, Abdelaziz Fillali, Mohamed Lahcen Zighidi and Djamel Yahiaoui.
According to the declaration signed last August by Presidents Macron and Tebboune, the scientific work carried out by the commission will aim to address "
all questions including those concerning the opening and restitution of archives, property and mortuary remains of resistance fighters Algerians, as well as those of nuclear tests and of the disappeared, with respect for all memories
".
The challenge seems immense as the subject is sensitive.
►
To read also
: In Algeria, Emmanuel Macron announces a commission of historians from the two countries on memory
The question is already whether the historians of the two countries will really manage to work together.
From a logistical point of view, this is still the big blur.
No timetable has been set.
The commission's operating budget has not been disclosed either.
And to make matters worse, the context has become tense in recent weeks in Algeria.
As the government increasingly attacks the media and human rights defenders, Benjamin Stora, author of a
report on colonization in Algeria and the war of independence
, was the target last month anti-Semitic attacks disseminated by a nationalist site…
►
To read also
: "
The war in Algeria still arouses passions because of deep wounds
", declares Benjamin Stora
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
Algeria
France
Story
Algerian War