Benjamin Stora is a specialist within the historical past of decolonization (archives). – BALTEL / SIPA
Emmanuel Macron obtained the historian Benjamin Stora on Friday and entrusted him with a mission on “the memory of colonization and the Algerian war”, with a view to selling “reconciliation between the French and Algerian peoples”, introduced the ‘Elysium.
This mission, the conclusions of that are anticipated on the finish of the yr, “will make it attainable to attract up a good and exact stock of the progress made in France on the reminiscence of colonization and the Algerian conflict, in addition to of the targeted on these points on each side of the Mediterranean, ”defined the presidency.
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A parallel effort on the Algerian facet
In a parallel course of, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune introduced on Sunday that he had appointed Physician Abdelmadjid Chikhi, director normal of the Algerian nationwide archives heart, to hold out “truth” work on memorial points between the 2 international locations.
Born in 1950 in Constantine, Algeria, Benjamin Stora is without doubt one of the most famous specialists within the historical past of Algeria, specifically the conflict (1954-1962) which led to the nation’s independence.
Getting out of “memory conflicts”
In Benjamin Stora’s mission letter, Emmanuel Macron signifies that “it is important that the history of the Algerian war be known and viewed with lucidity. The appeasement and serenity of those it depends on. bruised “. For him, it is usually “the possibility for our youth to get out of memory conflicts”.
“I wish to join in a new desire for reconciliation of the French and Algerian peoples”, writes the president. As a result of “the subject of colonization and the Algerian war has for too long hindered the construction between our two countries of a common destiny in the Mediterranean”.
Different steps thought of
Robust signal of a thaw in relations between Algeria and the previous colonial energy, Paris handed over in early July the stays of 24 Algerian fighters killed firstly of French colonization within the 19th century. A gesture thought of “a big step” by Algiers.
The mission entrusted by Emmanuel Macron ought to permit “Benjamin Stora to freely formulate recommendations on the next steps in this work of truth and memory”, in line with the Elysee.
Because the begin of his five-year time period, Emmanuel Macron has acknowledged that Maurice Audin, a pro-independence mathematician who died in 1957, had certainly “died under torture as a result of the system then instituted in Algeria by France”. He additionally honored the harkis, these Algerian fighters who served France after which have been deserted by Paris in tragic situations.