Macron announces in Algeria a commission of historians from both countries on memory

First modification: 08/26/2022 – 11:15

Emmanuel Macron and Abdelmadjid Tebboune did not separate after their handshake, upon the arrival of the former at the Algiers-Houari-Boumédiène airport. Both reviewed the troops before the national anthems. The two presidents held their first exchange in an airport room, surrounded by their main ministers.

Next, Emmanuel Macron went to the Martyrs’ Memorial, a mandatory part of official visits to Algeria, before meeting Abdelmadjid Tebboune at the El Mouradia presidential palace, on the heights of Algiers. The two heads of state had their first face-to-face meeting.

To close this first day of Emmanuel Macron in Algeria, a dinner was organized in his honor at the People’s Palace. A joint statement was then made, in which Abdelmajid Tebboune welcomed the “encouraging results” that allow “promising prospects to be outlined.” He insisted on the determination of both countries to “move forward” and “intensify efforts to improve relations.” The Algerian President mentioned in particular an “intensification of high-level visits”.

Emmanuel Macron, for his part, announced the creation of a joint commission of Algerian and French historians to study the archives on the colonization and war in Algeria. “We have a common past, (…) complex, painful,” said the re-elected president last May. He and Abdelmajid Tebboune have “decided together” to create this commission that will be in charge of “examining this entire historical period”, “from the beginning of colonization to the liberation war, without taboos, with the will (…) full access to our files.

Emmanuel Macron wanted to make official and justify a commemorative process that he has started in France, in particular with the Stora report (carried out by the historian Benjamin Stora), but which he had not yet managed to involve the Algerian authorities, recalls our special envoy Valérie Gas. “The past, we did not choose it, we inherited it, it is a block,” said the head of state. “We have to see it and recognize it, but we have the responsibility to build our future, for ourselves and for our young people,” he added.

Visas

The French president had said that he wanted to focus his visit on the future and youth, but once again the question of memory and the past prevailed, sources of tension between France and Algeria. This had caused a dispute between Algiers and Paris last October, when Emmanuel Macron had reproached the Algerian political-military system for “exploiting a memory rent” and had questioned the existence of the Algerian nation before colonization.

On other issues, including the regulation of visas according to Emmanuel Macron, the French president said he wanted to facilitate the mobility of artists, athletes, businessmen, academics or associations. And he insisted on economic cooperation that would create jobs for young people. “Several elements will be at the center of our work, first of all the clarification and simplification of our mobility framework, the advancement of work on our industry, our research, hydrocarbons and our rare metals. And in order to be able to advance the issues of innovation that our young people aspire to explore, in which we want to go faster and stronger. I see at least two: digital technology and filmmaking.”

African security issues have not been left aside, stressed Abdelmadjid Tebboune, for whom Libya, Mali, the Sahel and Western Sahara deserve that Algeria and France redouble their efforts.