Emmanuel Macron sent a strong gesture this Wednesday to the French who had to leave Algeria at the time of its independence. The French president has acknowledged that two massacres were committed by the French army after the signing of the Évian Accords in 1962.
Emmanuel Macron is continuing his efforts to “appease” the memories of the Algerian war with a strong gesture addressed to the black peids as the 60th anniversary of the end of this conflict which continues to divide the French approaches.
The Head of State returned to the shooting in the rue d’Isly, in Algiers, in which dozens of supporters of French Algeria were killed by the army on March 26, 1962. That day, mis-deployed French soldiers, poorly commanded, fired into a crowd of French people demonstrating (…) That day it was a massacre “, he said, adding that “ 60 years later ” this “ drama passed over in silence », « France recognizes this tragedy “.
Emmanuel Macron spoke of gesture ” unforgivable for the Republic “. This is the first time that this massacre has been officially condemned at the highest level of the state. He also assured that the French archives on this tragedy can be consulted and studied freely.
► To read also: War of Algeria: the early opening of the archives recorded in France
Recognize the “massacre of July 5, 1962” in Oran
Referring to the “ atrocious escalation of insecurity and violence », « attacks and assassinations which chanted the end of the Algerian war, the President of the Republic also urged to recognize and ” look in the face ” the ” July 5, 1962 massacre » in Oran, who touched « hundreds of Europeans, mainly French “. ” This massacre must be (…) recognized “, he decided. ” The truth must be in order and the story passed on “, insisted the head of state.
His long-awaited speech was listened to with seriousness by a hundred people gathered in the village hall of the Élysée, including returnees, descendants, historians and three mayors of towns in the south of France which had hosted a number of between them in 1962. Emmanuel Macron underlined the difficulties which hit thousands of families on their return to the metropolis, ranging from incomprehension to contempt, to indifference to prejudice.
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For a “ recognition” of the Pieds-noirs
The French president pleaded for a ” acknowledgement of the Pieds-noirs, which is part of a series of memorial acts since the beginning of the five-year term and as we approach the 60th anniversary of the end of the Algerian war with the Évian Accords and then the independence of this country on July 5, 1962.
On September 20, 2021, Emmanuel Macron had asked “pardon” to the harkis, Algerian auxiliaries of the French army, who were “ abandoned by France. A bill, enacting this ” sorry » and trying to « to fix » the damages suffered, is currently being examined by Parliament and should be adopted by the end of February.
► To listen also: Memories of the Algerian war: silences and unsaid in the families
(With AFP)