France’s Macron Leverages Memory Politics to Mend Strained Algerian Ties

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | November 22nd, 2024 — In a bid to rekindle diplomatic ties severed last summer due to France’s overt support for Morocco’s stance on Western Sahara, French President Emmanuel Macron has once again turned to the emotionally charged topic of historical memory. This approach, laden with symbolic gestures, seeks to re-engage Algeria in dialogue, though many view it as a desperate maneuver that risks falling on deaf ears.

Macron’s latest initiative was marked by the visit of France’s ambassador to Algeria, Stéphane Romatet, to the Martyrs’ Square in El Alia Cemetery, Algiers. There, on behalf of the French President, Romatet laid a wreath at the grave of Algerian revolutionary hero Larbi Ben M’hidi. The French Embassy in Algeria, in a post on its X (formerly Twitter) account, stated, “President Emmanuel Macron believes that the pursuit of truth and acknowledgment must continue.” This was a clear invitation for Algeria to resume cooperation on the memory file, overseen by a joint Franco-Algerian committee of historians, co-chaired by Benjamin Stora for France and Lahcen Zghidi for Algeria.

This gesture follows Macron’s recent acknowledgment of France’s responsibility in the brutal execution of Ben M’hidi by French colonial forces during Algeria’s struggle for independence. However, the timing of the ambassador’s visit—outside any commemorative occasion tied to Algeria’s liberation struggle—has raised questions about its intent. Analysts suggest it may be a calculated attempt to reignite talks within the dormant joint historical committee, whose activities have effectively stalled since July.

Despite these efforts, the Algerian government has remained indifferent. Macron’s symbolic overtures, including the recent admission of French state culpability, have failed to elicit any official response from Algiers. Observers argue that such admissions offer little value, given that French General Paul Aussaresses confessed as far back as 2000 to orchestrating Ben M’hidi’s assassination. This history is well-documented, rendering Macron’s acknowledgment more of a political gesture than a substantive contribution to reconciliation.

Algerians widely perceive Macron’s approach as insincere and fragmented, with an overarching strategy that employs a drip-feed of concessions to create the illusion of French accountability. Critics argue that France has yet to engage in genuine atonement for its colonial atrocities, which include the killings of prominent figures like Maurice Audin and Ali Boumendjel alongside Ben M’hidi.

Compounding the challenge is Macron’s controversial diplomatic pivot towards Morocco, which many see as a betrayal of Algerian interests. This shift, marked by France’s support for Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara, has led to a breakdown in bilateral relations. Reports indicate that Algerian members of the joint historical committee are unwilling to resume discussions under the current climate, rejecting Macron’s piecemeal approach to historical reckoning.

Macron’s broader strategy appears to aim at isolating the memory dossier from the larger framework of Franco-Algerian relations. This compartmentalization seeks to shield bilateral ties from damage when France engages in actions, such as aligning with Morocco, that Algeria deems hostile. Yet, this approach seems to have been recognized—and rejected—by Algerian officials, who remain resolute in their stance against France’s selective engagement.

Ultimately, Macron’s memory politics, while aimed at repairing fractured relations, risk backfiring by deepening Algerian skepticism toward France’s sincerity. Without meaningful steps toward historical accountability and a recalibration of French policy in North Africa, Macron’s overtures may continue to be dismissed as little more than diplomatic theater.

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