Political advisor Sarah Knafo has asserted that Algeria costs France over nine billion euros annually, a claim made in the context of bilateral relations. Knafo stated, "Pas un centime de plus à Alger," and further declared, "Zéro visa. Zéro avantage. Pas un centime de plus." This perspective contrasts sharply with historical accounts of France's presence in Algeria, which describe the country as being invaded rather than voluntarily united with France. Colonization historians note that this era began with a military landing in Algeria and was followed by forty years of continued conquest, not a consensual agreement. The article explicitly states that Algeria was invaded, not married, by France, and that colonization began with a military landing and continued for forty years of conquest, showing the non-consensual nature of the relationship.
Challenging Knafo's Figures
Sarah Knafo presented a precise figure of 9.056 billion euros as France's annual cost for Algeria. This calculation was central to her argument regarding France's financial burden related to Algeria. However, the article asserts that Knafo's calculation blends various types of expenses, some of which are not direct payments to the Algerian state or specific privileges benefiting Algerians. The narrative presented also challenges the idea of France "civilizing" Algeria, contending that France instead conquered a nation already possessing its own established cities, institutions, economies, cultures, knowledge, resistance movements, and civilization. The article firmly states that France did not civilize Algeria but rather conquered a country that already possessed its own cities, institutions, economies, cultures, knowledge, resistance, and civilization, thereby refuting the notion of a 'civilizing mission.'
Historically, before the 1827 incident, France was indebted to the Regency of Algiers for wheat acquired during the revolutionary wars, a debt that the Regency had either financed or guaranteed. This pre-existing financial obligation provides a key backdrop to the events that followed. The French conquest itself was characterized by violent actions, including razias, the deliberate burning of crops, the destruction of villages, the seizure of livestock herds, the displacement of populations, and the gassing of communities taking refuge in caves. These actions illustrate the brutal methods employed during the invasion. Knafo's broader stance on bilateral relations is encapsulated by her statements, "Pas un centime de plus à Alger," and "Zéro visa. Zéro avantage. Pas un centime de plus."
The Brutality of Conquest
France's narrative of the 1830 invasion begins with an incident involving Dey Hussein and consul Pierre Deval in April 1827. This specific incident is often cited as the casus belli for the French intervention. However, the French did not find a 'wasteland' upon entering Algiers in July 1830; they found a city, state, administration, economy, properties, and a treasury. This discovery contradicts any notion of a desolate territory awaiting French development. A portion of the cost of the French expedition was covered by wealth seized from the invaded country, directly funding the conquest itself. Millions of hectares of land were taken from Algerians through war, seizures, confiscations, and land legislation, fundamentally altering the land ownership structure. The article disputes the idea that France brought 'civilization' to Algeria, arguing that infrastructure like roads, schools, and hospitals primarily served colonial purposes, and access remained unequal for the indigenous population. Contemporary research places the French conquest of Algeria within the history of genocidal violence in the 19th century, noting the extreme brutality and systematic destruction inflicted upon the Algerian population.
Laghouat, a fortified oasis, thrived before December 1852, sustained by its gardens, livestock, crafts, trade, and an irrigation system that supported a palm grove of over thirty thousand trees. This description paints a picture of a flourishing and self-sufficient community. In November 1852, nearly six thousand French soldiers converged on Laghouat, setting the stage for a devastating confrontation. Following a siege and assault, a massacre began on December 4, 1852, where over two-thirds of the inhabitants were killed. The massacre in Laghouat included the killing of combatants, women, children, elderly individuals, and entire families, with bodies reportedly thrown into wells, illustrating the indiscriminate nature of the violence. The gardens and palm groves of the oasis were subsequently devastated, destroying the very foundations of the community's sustenance and culture. This catastrophe in Laghouat is known locally as 'ʿâm al-khaliya,' which translates to "the year Laghouat was emptied," a name that powerfully conveys the profound loss and devastation experienced by the local population.
Enduring Colonial Legacies
Historical liabilities between France and Algeria, predating independence, encompass financial disputes from before 1830, the seizure of Algeria's treasury, and the confiscation of vast tracts of land. These historical grievances also include the burning of villages, the destruction of crops, gassings, forced displacements, and famines, which led to hundreds of thousands of deaths. Specific events cited are the Laghouat massacre, the deaths of Algerian soldiers fighting for France, the extraction of resources, the plight of Sahara radiation victims, the issue of disappeared persons, and the presence of Algerian human remains in French collections. These interconnected historical liabilities form a complex web of unresolved issues.
Algerians were conscripted and sent to fight in various French wars, participating in conflicts from Crimea to the two World Wars. They often served a French Republic that did not grant them equal rights or status in their own homeland, creating a paradox of service without equality. Simultaneously, Algerians contributed significantly to the French economy and infrastructure, working in mines, factories, ports, and construction sites across France. This labor was a key component of French immigration and economic development during the colonial and post-colonial periods, noting the human cost and contribution of Algerians to France.
Following Algeria's independence in 1962, France continued its nuclear testing program in the Sahara. These tests occurred at sites such as Reggane and In Ekker, raising ongoing concerns about environmental and health impacts on the local populations, a legacy that continues to affect communities today.
The article advocates for several measures to address these enduring legacies. It calls for the opening of all relevant archives, to ensure transparency and a complete understanding of historical events. It also demands the restitution of seized items, which were taken during the colonial period, as a matter of justice. The identification of individuals who disappeared during the conflict is another key demand, recognizing the pain and uncertainty faced by their families. Additionally, it demands the decontamination of former nuclear test sites, to mitigate the long-term environmental and health consequences. Finally, it calls for the return of human remains currently held in French collections to Algeria, acknowledging the importance of cultural and ancestral respect. These measures collectively aim to address the multifaceted and long-standing impacts of colonialism and conflict.
