October 17, 1961: Algiers calls for an approach "far from the predominance of colonialist thought"

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Saturday advocated an approach "far from the predominance of colonialist thought" in the treatment of historical issues with France, in a message broadcast for the 60th anniversary of the massacre of Algerians on October 17, 1961 in Paris.

That evening, while the Algerian war (1954-1962) had lasted for seven years, 30,000 Algerians who had come to demonstrate peacefully in Paris suffered a violent repression, killing dozens of people, according to historians, more than 200 according to some people. 'between them.

Read also Algerians killed during the demonstration of October 17, 1961 in Paris: the war of numbers

"I reaffirm our firm concern to deal with the issues of History and memory, without complacency or compromise and with a keen sense of responsibility (...) far from the infatuation and the predominance of arrogant colonialist thought by lobbies unable to free themselves from their chronic extremism

, ”he said in a statement posted on the Algerian presidency's website.

Abdelmadjid Tebboune estimated that the murderous repression of October 17, 1961

. The Algerian president had decreed a few hours earlier than every October 17 now, and from this Sunday, Algeria will have to observe a minute of silence in memory of the victims of this tragedy.

, he added. Relations between Paris and Algiers are very tense on multiple issues including the memorial issue and the immigration issue, with statements from both sides of the Mediterranean.

At the beginning of October, Algiers decided to recall "immediate" its ambassador to Paris, Mohamed Antar-Daoud, after remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron reported by the French newspaper Le Monde which accused the Algerian "politico-military" system of maintaining a “memorial rent” by serving its people an “official history” which “is not based on truths”.

A few days earlier, the French ambassador in Algiers, François Gouyette, had been summoned by the Algerian government to be notified of an official protest after the announcement by Paris of a sharp reduction in visas granted to Algerians, Moroccans and Tunisians. .

Paris justified this gesture by the “refusal” of these countries to issue the consular passes necessary for the return of immigrants in an irregular situation, turned back from France.