Algeria’s Interior Minister Brahim Merad declared on Thursday that France will eventually acknowledge the crimes it committed during its colonial rule in Algeria, describing such recognition as “inevitable.”
Speaking at a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the May 8, 1945 massacres—where French colonial forces killed an estimated 45,000 Algerians demanding independence—Merad emphasized growing awareness in France about the brutality of its colonial past.
“Philanthropists in France now recognize that the crimes committed during France’s colonization of Algeria, particularly during the revolution from 1954 to 1962, were unparalleled globally,” he said.
The massacres, which followed Algerian support for France during World War II, are seen as a turning point that helped ignite Algeria’s armed struggle for independence beginning on November 1, 1954. Historical records show the violent crackdown by French forces continued for over 40 days, involving mass killings and widespread repression.
Merad noted a rising consciousness among the French public that, in his view, will eventually compel France to officially acknowledge its colonial-era crimes in Algeria.
This year’s remembrance comes at a time of renewed diplomatic strain between the two nations, with tensions escalating to the level of ambassador withdrawals and expulsions, as historical grievances continue to shape bilateral relations.