On Thursday François Hollande became the first French President since Algeria gained its independence 50 years ago to address both Algerian houses of parliament. The speech marked a watershed in French-Algerian relations as Hollande acknowledged the suffering colonialism inflicted upon Algerians: “For 132 years, Algeria was subjected to a brutal and unfair system: colonization. I acknowledge the suffering it caused.” This was not an apology, Hollande made it clear from the start of his two-day state visit that he was not there to apologize or to repent, but an acknowledgement of the reality of France's colonialist past. It may not sound like much, but it was a landmark moment in French history. France has long been in post-colonial denial. There is to this day a common discourse on the “positive” aspects of colonialism. Hollande's speech was greeted with dismay in some quarters back home. This point of view is well summed up by the comments of Thierry Mariani, a politician from the UMP: “Why does the president insist on analyzing only one aspect of history? Why doesn't he also acknowledge the numerous benefits colonialism brought to Algeria in terms of infrastructure, of equipment and healthcare?” And he adds, “Yes, Algerians suffered, but so did Harkis and Pieds-Noirs, as well as Europeans, and there were massacres on both sides. Surely we could have expected the President of France to be a little more concerned about the suffering of his own citizens?” I have over the years met many people who describe themselves as “Algerois” and who are commonly called, Pieds-Noirs or black feet. These are French people born in Algeria, whose parents were also often born there, who considered Algeria home, but who were forced to leave after independence. And often when the subject of colonialism comes up, the conversation becomes animated and emotional. They do not recognize themselves in the portrait of the colonizer; they are not oppressors; they did not do harm or evil; they simply lived side by side with the Arabs, Berbers and Muslims; it was home to all of them. They were all citizens of the same country. The Europeans built schools and hospitals, brought culture and commerce; they were forces of good, surely? And then the war came, they were murdered and massacred, many lost their homes and were made to leave their country; surely they are the victims here? Then there are the Harkis, these are Algerians who fought on the side of the French during the war of independence. So when Hollande in his speech to the Algerian parliament said that: “We respect the act of memory, of all the memories. There is a duty of truth on the violence, the injustices, the massacres and the torture” and goes on to stress the need to establish the truth, calls it an “obligation that ties Algerians and French”, he is saying something quite profound. He is acknowledging that colonialism is by its very nature wrong and inflicts suffering on those who are colonized, and is recognizing the right of those who are colonized to fight to be liberated from its yoke and is admitting that suffering and death were the tragic consequences of this process. Hollande has called for the archives of both France and Algeria to be opened to historians of both countries so that the truth can finally be told fully and comprehensively. To my mind this is more important than an apology by a president who was a child at the time of the Algerian war or by gestures of repentance. It reminds me of South Africa and its great work in its movement of truth and reconciliation after the end of apartheid. Telling the truth, with all that it entails, is far more useful than the mixture of vilification and glorification that is often inherent in post-colonialist narratives. Only then can you move to Hollande's stated aim of a new relationship between France and Algeria, one that is a “strategic partnership among equals” — something that should hold for all countries that were once colonized and their colonizers. Hollande should be applauded for doing what none of his predecessors dared to do. It may not be an apology, but it reminds us all that colonialism is, was and always will be, a system that is brutal and unfair to those who are colonized, whoever they may be. Occupying a land that is not your own, for whatever reasons, always results in oppression. — Imane Kurdi is a Saudi writer on European affairs. She can be reached at [email protected]
