ALGERIAN PATRIOTS - ENGLISH

The narrative surrounding Morocco’s relationship with the Algerian Revolution has long been shaped by biased historical accounts , mostly propagated by Moroccan state discourse . This version of events portrays King Mohammed V as an unwavering ally of Algeria in its struggle for independence. However, a deeper examination of historical facts reveals that this support was neither unconditional nor altruistic . Rather, it was a political tool , used by the Moroccan monarchy to strengthen its position, gain leverage in negotiations with France, and pursue territorial ambitions at Algeria’s expense. Strategic, Self-Interested Support When the Algerian War of Independence erupted in 1954, Morocco had just gained its own independence in 1956. Still grappling with internal instability and political uncertainty, King Mohammed V saw the Algerian struggle as an opportunity —both to consolidate his rule and to extract concessions from France. By offering limited assistance to the FLN (Nationa...

In the depths of history, certain pages resist closure, leaving lingering shadows that haunt collective consciences. Algeria , a nation forged in the flames of unyielding resistance, is poised to engrave in its national legislation a solemn condemnation of French colonialism . Carried by a cross-party coalition of deputies, this proposed law—scheduled for plenary debates in the People’s National Assembly (APN) on December 20, 21, and 24, 2025—designates the 132 years of occupation (1830-1962) as an “imprescriptible state crime.” It assigns full legal responsibility to France for a litany of crimes against humanity , demanding official recognition, apologies, and reparations.   At the core of this text, organized into rigorous chapters—defining objectives, cataloguing violations, mechanisms of historical justice—lies a documented roster of some thirty atrocities: mass killings, summary executions, forced displacements, systematic plundering of resources, attempts at cultural alienat...

The announcement of a presidential pardon for Boualem Sansal has stirred surprise, debate, and indignation across Algeria. The Franco-Algerian writer, sentenced to five years in prison for statements deemed harmful to national unity, will be transferred to Germany for medical treatment at the express request of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. While the gesture appears rooted in humanitarian considerations, it in fact unveils a complex diplomatic web where principles of sovereignty, European power balances, and political calculations intersect. A Humanitarian Gesture with Multiple Diplomatic Readings Officially, the presidential decision is framed as a “humanitarian” response to a German request. Boualem Sansal, elderly and in poor health, would thus benefit from a medical transfer in a spirit of clemency and openness. Yet seasoned observers know that behind this façade lies a far subtler game of influence. For months, Paris had sought Sansal’s release, multiplying diplomatic and ...

At a time when the Maghreb is experiencing a reconfiguration of regional balances due to Sahelian developments and international rivalries, the joint military exercises between France and Morocco, named “Chergui”, have sparked a strong reaction in Algiers. While officially presented as routine exercises aimed at strengthening operational capabilities and interoperability, their context, location, and naming suggest a far deeper political and strategic significance. Conducted in Morocco’s eastern region, near the Algerian border, these maneuvers convey multiple messages: one political to Algeria, one geostrategic regarding France’s repositioning in North Africa, and a symbolic message about Morocco’s role as a preferred Western security partner. This article offers a geopolitical and geostrategic reading of these maneuvers, analyzing their background, their implicit objectives, and their regional implications. I. The Geopolitical Framework: A Fragmented Maghreb and Shifting Alliances 1....

In a surreal segment aired on France Inter, journalist Léa Salamé flippantly suggested a grotesque “exchange”: trading the 9,000 skulls of Algerian men and women stored in Paris’ Musée de l’Homme for the supposed “liberation” of the controversial writer Boualem Sansal. This offhand remark, delivered with alarming nonchalance, betrays a profound ignorance of colonial history, a troubling contempt for Algerian memory, and an indecency that demands condemnation. When ‘Humor’ Becomes an Insult to the Dead What does such a suggestion truly signify? That even in death, decapitated and displaced, Algerian bodies may still be used as bargaining chips? That a mutilated national memory can be reduced to a rhetorical device in a radio broadcast? Behind this tasteless comment lies an unspeakable idea: the remains of anti-colonial resistance fighters, displayed as trophies by a former empire, are still treated as negotiable objects of French discretion. A Colonial Memory Still Denied The 9,000 sku...

The recent publication of a confidential report on the infiltration tactics of the Muslim Brotherhood into French institutions has sparked a flurry of controversy — not for its findings, but for the manner in which it was unveiled. Orchestrated by Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, the release of the document appears less a matter of national security than a calculated move in a broader campaign of political positioning. What was originally intended as a tool for internal analysis has now become a spectacle — emblematic of a political approach that prioritises media attention over effective governance. 1. A Strategic Document Turned into a Political Prop Commissioned by Retailleau’s predecessor, the report was designed as a working document, grounded in analysis and intended to support a discreet and structured response to the threat of ideological entrenchment in public institutions. According to sources familiar with its origin, it was never meant for public consumption — not out of...

For several months now, relations between Algiers and Paris have been caught in a storm of unprecedented turbulence since Algeria’s independence. While international observers speculate on the root causes of this deterioration, Algerian diplomatic sources based in Paris assert that the crisis was not only foreseeable but had long been anticipated, analyzed, and documented. According to these diplomats, the roots of this rupture run deep, stemming from a deliberate and methodical strategy orchestrated by powerful circles within the very heart of the French state apparatus. Ignored Warnings Confidential diplomatic reports, excerpts of which were recently leaked according to El Khabar and Algérie Patriotique , point to a series of warnings issued by Algeria’s embassy in Paris over more than a decade. These documents, addressed to senior authorities in Algiers, detail a range of maneuvers led by what diplomats describe as “hostile circles” within French institutions. These groups, acco...

The recent diplomatic tensions between Paris and Algiers—set against an already fraught French political landscape—have reignited a familiar debate: is there a genuine divergence between President Emmanuel Macron and figures from the republican right, such as Bruno Retailleau, particularly on issues related to Algeria, immigration, and Islam? Upon closer inspection, the perceived opposition appears less ideological than strategic. The Illusion of Divergence At first glance, the rhetoric of Emmanuel Macron and Bruno Retailleau seems markedly different. On one side stands a president who often treads a tightrope in his dealings with Algiers, alternating between gestures of openness and firmness; on the other, a senator from the Republicans (LR) whose tone on immigration and postcolonial relations is more direct—at times even combative. Yet this apparent opposition conceals a fundamental convergence: both advocate a demanding stance towards Algeria and share a desire to reassert French ...

The date of August 24, 2021, will remain etched in the annals of Algerian diplomacy as the moment when Algeria, through the voice of Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra, announced the severance of its diplomatic ties with the Kingdom of Morocco. This decision, described as historic, was not the result of emotional overreaction or an isolated incident. Rather, it represents the culmination of a long series of provocations, recurrent hostilities, and destabilizing attempts, the roots of which trace back to the very founding of the Moroccan monarchy as we know it today. In this solemn declaration, Algeria took a firm and unequivocal stance, no longer viewing Morocco as a brotherly Maghreb neighbour, but as a disruptive actor threatening its stability and that of the broader region. The symbolism of the chosen date — the anniversary of Morocco's accusations against Algeria following the 1994 Marrakech attacks — lends a powerful memorial dimension to Algeria’s decision. I. The "Grea...

After months of unprecedented tension between Algiers and Paris, high-level talks have resumed between the two capitals. Three days after a phone call between Presidents Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Emmanuel Macron, the foreign ministers of both countries, Jean-Noël Barrot and Ahmed Attaf, held discussions on April 3. This diplomatic sequence paves the way for a new phase of active negotiations, which could lead to a thaw in relations—provided that the major points of contention are addressed with due seriousness. A Revived Dialogue, Still Far from Normalization The March 31 conversation between Tebboune and Macron signaled a shared political will to renew dialogue after an eight-month diplomatic freeze triggered by disputes over historical memory, migration, and remarks deemed unacceptable by Algiers. That presidential call led to the drafting of a ten-point bilateral roadmap, intended to guide the relaunch of cooperation in sensitive areas such as security, migration, justice, economi...