President Hollande acknowledges the suffering of Algeria under French colonial rule
The French presidentdenounced the colonial system s "profoundly unjust and brutal" introduced in Algeria during 132 years by France on the second day of his state visit to the former colony but he did not apologise as many Algerians wanted. However he promised to tell the truth about past French actions in Algeria.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/President-Holla...
Ina speech before bth houses of the Algerian parlament he said "We need the truth to all those for whom our common history is painful, hurting and struggling with scars, after 50 years, to close," he said immediately. "For 132 years, Algeria has been subjected to a profoundly unjust, brutal and destructive. Nothing can justify attacks against the Algerian population. I recognize here the suffering the colonial system imposed on the Algerian people. " He also admitted that in the case of the massacre of 45,000 Algerians at Setif on 8 May 1945 ,France failed to live up to its universal values.
He pointed out that of the 900,000 Algerians living abroad 700,000 lived in Algeria and almost a million French citizens were born in Algeria. He called for France and Algeria to unite behind the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM).
A Declaration of Algiers was published late Wednesday saying that France and Algeria "are determined to open a new chapter in their relations" of "exceptional intensity" and spelling out political, human and economic goals, AP reported.
President Hollande travelled to Tlemcen on Thursday.
He pointed out that of the 900,000 Algerians living abroad 700,000 lived in Algeria and almost a million French citizens were born in Algeria. He called for France and Algeria to unite behind the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM).
A Declaration of Algiers was published late Wednesday saying that France and Algeria "are determined to open a new chapter in their relations" of "exceptional intensity" and spelling out political, human and economic goals, AP reported.
President Hollande travelled to Tlemcen on Thursday.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/President-Holla...