Benjamin Stora discussed his report on the Algerian War in conversation with Emmanuel Kattan @ CU Maison Française

A virtual event jointly organized by the Columbia Maison Française, the Columbia Department of French and Romance Philology, and the Alliance Program

On January 20th 2021, French historian Benjamin Stora submitted his "Report on memory issues relating to colonization of Algeria and the Algerian War" to President Emmanuel Macron. The report, commissioned by the French President last July, aims to achieve a “reconciliation of memories” between France and Algeria and help the two countries come to terms with the violent legacy of colonization and an independence war that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. The report contains around 30 recommendations, including the creation of a “Memories and Truth” Commission, opening up archives on the thousands of civilians and soldiers who went missing during the war, increasing collaboration between both countries on historical studies, improving school curricula, and investigating French nuclear tests in Algeria. The report has been hotly debated in France and Algeria, particularly after President Macron ruled out issuing an official apology.

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