The commission of French and Algerian historians, created in 2022 to work on the common memory of the two countries, indicated on Saturday that it wanted to
“valorize”
the cemeteries and tombs of Algerians who died after being imprisoned in France in the 19th century, at the beginning of colonization.
At the end of its fourth meeting, this week in France, the commission co-chaired by French researchers Benjamin Stora and Algerian Mohamed Lahcen Zighidi said in particular that they had
“agreed”
to
“continue the identification and inventory of cemeteries, graves and names of 19th century Algerian prisoners who died and buried in France
,” in a statement received by AFP.
Historians call to
“valorize these places of memory by affixing commemorative plaques”
in a
“dozen places”
ranging from Toulon (South-East) to Pau (South-West) via Corsica, New Caledonia or Guyana.
Also read: Algerian War: France, theater of the conflict of memories
Many insurgents imprisoned in Cayenne or Sainte-Marguerite
At the start of colonization (1830-1962) and after the war of conquest which ended in 1847 with the surrender of Emir Abd el-Kader, many Algerians were interned by France, which thus sought "to
establish its colonial power
,” Benjamin Stora told AFP.
These insurgents were imprisoned in prisons in Cayenne (Guyana) or on the island of Sainte-Marguerite, off the coast of Cannes, where 3,000 to 4,000 Algerians were interned between 1841 and 1884.
Also readReport on colonization and the Algerian war: Benjamin Stora, a historian between two shores
Asked about possible opposition to the development of these places, Benjamin Stora did not rule out such a scenario but called for moving forward.
“It may happen but we can't stop at that, or else we don't do anything
,” he said.
In their declaration, the ten French and Algerian historians propose at the same time to finalize the digitization of the registers of cemeteries in Algeria where French people are buried.
They also reaffirm the proposals made during their three previous meetings, including the restitution of archives of Algeria from the Ottoman era and that of
“symbolic property”
having belonged to Emir Abd el-Kader, including his sword and his Koran, exiled between 1848 and 1852 in Amboise (center).
These restitutions must, however, be validated by France and are
“complex”
, with some of the property being held by private actors, said Benjamin Stora.
This joint commission, created in August 2022 by French Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, has the task of
“working on the history of contemporary Algeria, to better understand each other and reconcile wounded memories”
, according to the Élysée. .