• Algeria's parliament unanimously passes a law declaring French colonization a crime.
• The law demands an apology and reparations for historical injustices.
• Analysts state the legislation has significant political and symbolic weight despite lacking legal enforceability.

The Algerian parliament has unanimously approved a landmark law declaring France's colonisation of the country a crime, demanding a formal apology and reparations. The legislation outlines France's "legal responsibility for its colonial past" and details the atrocities committed, including "nuclear tests, extrajudicial killings, and systematic plundering of resources." Lawmakers celebrated the bill wearing national colors and chanting "Long live Algeria," signifying a strong national sentiment driven by a need to reckon with Algeria's colonial past, according to SCMP and Al Jazeera.

This new law not only declares the colonisation a "state crime" but also criminalises the glorification of colonialism, reflecting a deep desire to confront France's violent historical legacy in Algeria, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1.5 million Algerians during the war of independence from 1954 to 1962. The passage of this bill comes at a time when diplomatic relations between Algerian and France have particularly soured, according to BBC and Middle East Eye.

The law has notably been described as carrying significant political and symbolic weight, despite experts emphasizing its lack of international enforceability. Parliament Speaker Brahim Boughali remarked that this legislation conveys a “clear message” regarding Algeria's historical memory, marking a possible rupture in relations with France that has been growing increasingly strained, particularly in light of France's support for Morocco’s autonomy plan over the disputed Western Sahara region, as discussed in Africanews and Al Jazeera.

The historical context of Algeria's demand for reparations resurfaces as part of a broader global conversation about the need for former colonial powers to address past injustices. Algeria's Foreign Minister has pointed out that any restitution should not be treated as "a gift or favor" but as an inherent right, emphasizing the need for accountability for colonial abuses. This echoes sentiments from various lawmakers pushing for recognition of historical grievances, as highlighted by Middle East Eye and SCMP.