An Algerian-French Historians' Commission?

Benjamin Stora, a leading French authority on Algerian history, was commissioned by President Emmanuel Macron in 2020 to write a “report on the memory of the colonisation of Algeria and the Algerian War”.  The report was submitted in early 2021 and puts forward a series of new initiatives that France could implement to pave the way for a “reconciliation of memories”.  

Among other things, it calls for 

• The establishment of a “Memory and truth” commission to “encourage joint initiatives”on history and memory;
• The creation of a commission of Franco-Algerian historians tasked with shedding light on the kidnapping and killing of Europeans in Oran in July 1962
• The creation of a Franco-Algerian commission tasked with establishing the history of the famous Baba Marzug cannon and studying its possible restitution
• The revival of plans for a Franco-Algerian history museum; the organisation of conferences in 2021 (on African independence movements)
• The establishment of an archival collection jointly held by both countries and open to the public.

On the question of writing a common history of Algier and France, Stora noted:

Clearly, these are two opposing visions that cannot be reconciled. But underneath these visions, there’s nevertheless a cultural mixing that has taken place, ties that have been forged, contact that has been established and a togetherness that has existed.... So, there’s still a history we can draw on, not as a way to bring about reconciliation, which cannot be, but to find common ground. If we tap into this history, we see that there are things that bridge us together and potential avenues for cooperation, and that allows us to envision a sort of future together, with the help of specific initiatives. These initiatives can take the form of paying tribute to those who were killed or went missing in the war, promoting literature, etc.

Click here for a full interview with Benjamin Stora