Stora rules out an early resumption of Algerian-French memory work
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Algérie 360
Historian Benjamin Stora believes an early resumption of the work of the Algerian-French joint commission on memory is not feasible. He says long-term research into colonisation and its consequences is necessary, and discussed this prospect at the Algiers International Book Fair, according to El Khabar.
Benjamin Stora believes that the Algerian-French joint historians' commission is not expected to resume its work soon. “For the moment, I do not think so, but in the future, yes,” the historian told the daily El Khabar during the Algiers International Book Fair, according to Algérie 360.
The historian believes that work on the memory of French colonisation has not really begun. He lists the confiscated lands, massacres, suppressed uprisings and social scars of colonisation among the issues to be addressed, requiring extensive research and access to archives. Benjamin Stora also recalls that France acknowledged its responsibility for the deaths of Ali Boumendjel and Maurice Audin, as well as for the massacres of 17 October 1961. He also mentions the return of the remains of an Algerian heroine and the opening of certain archive collections, according to Algérie 360.
This position comes as files linked to the Algerian War remain classified as defence secrets, complicating the work of researchers in both countries. Benjamin Stora makes the resumption of the work on historical memory conditional on a genuine political will to examine the colonial past, according to his statements reported by El Khabar.
