Algerian Senate Calls for Revisions to Historic Colonization Law. Algiers, Algeria — 2026-01-23 Lead Paragraph: Algeria’s Senate has called for revisions to a controversial law that declares France’s colonization from 1830 to 1962 a crime, weeks after the lower house of parliament approved it.
The demand for changes, particularly concerning reparations, indicates legislative discord and adds to the already strained diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The lower house’s unanimous vote on December 24 designated French colonization as a crime with “legal responsibility, “sparking calls for an apology and reparations.
However, the Senate has now raised objections, specifically targeting the financial compensation provisions.
The Senate’s stance contrasts with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s statement that Algeria seeks formal recognition of the crimes committed rather than financial restitution.
The legislative disagreement comes amid ongoing tensions between Algeria and France, heightened by France’s endorsement of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. Officials commented on the matter. “Historical toll figures cited in the law remain a point of contention, with Algeria stating the war killed 1.
5 million Algerians—a figure contested by French historians who estimate the total deaths, including Algerians, at around 500,000. French President Emmanuel Macron has previously acknowledged colonization as a “crime against humanity, “but France has not issued a formal apology, leaving a century of trauma unresolved.
The Senate’s demand for changes to the law is likely to further complicate the legislative process.
The Algerian Senate cannot directly amend the legislation, necessitating a joint committee to reconcile the text.
The situation underscores the sensitivity of the issue of reparations and the recognition of French colonization in Algeria. Further details are expected as the legislative process unfolds.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
