Remembering the Atrocity of Algeria’s Laghouat: The 172nd Anniversary of the 1852 Massacre

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | December 4th, 2024 — The 172nd anniversary of the tragic Massacre of Laghouat, a heinous episode of French colonial brutality, is being commemorated through a series of events led by Algeria’s civil society and supported by the Ministry of Mujahideen and Rights Holders. A central feature of the commemoration is a scientific symposium entitled “The Battle of Laghouat, December 4, 1852: A Crime Against Humanity That Shall Never Be Forgotten.”

Organized by the Civil Society Network to Confront Global Neo-Colonial Thought, in coordination with the National Civil Society Observatory and under the supervision of the Ministry of Mujahideen and Rights Holders, the symposium seeks to shed light on one of the most barbaric chapters of French colonial history. The event is hosted in collaboration with the Wilaya of Laghouat and brings together scholars, historians, and researchers to expose the horrors of the Laghouat massacre, which remain an indelible stain on humanity’s conscience.

Exposing France’s Colonial Crimes

The massacre of Laghouat, executed on December 4, 1852, under the command of French General Aimable Pélissier, involved the first documented use of chemical warfare. The French forces deployed chloroform gas to exterminate the population, marking a brutal precedent in the history of international warfare. This barbaric act, targeting an Algerian town resisting colonial occupation, decimated its people and left a legacy of suffering.

The symposium emphasizes that this atrocity constitutes a crime against humanity—a flagrant violation of fundamental human values that can never be erased or ignored, regardless of attempts to obscure or deny its historical reality.

Academic and International Dimensions

The event features contributions from leading academics, historians, and legal experts, offering a multidisciplinary analysis of the massacre. Discussions focus on documenting the event’s historical details, exploring its legal and ethical dimensions, and ensuring its place in both national and international collective memory.

Participants argue for the importance of integrating the narrative of Laghouat into global awareness, highlighting the massacre as an early example of colonial powers resorting to genocidal methods. This endeavor underscores Algeria’s broader struggle for historical justice and the imperative to hold colonial powers accountable for their crimes.

A Call for Justice and Collective Memory

The symposium’s organizers stress the need to preserve and amplify the story of Laghouat in Algerian and global consciousness. This tragedy, they assert, is not merely a historical footnote but a reminder of the enduring consequences of colonial exploitation and dehumanization. By revisiting the atrocities committed, the symposium aims to galvanize efforts to seek justice and foster solidarity against neo-colonial tendencies still present in global systems today.

In his opening remarks, a representative from the Ministry of Mujahideen and Rights Holders reiterated the Algerian state’s commitment to safeguarding the memory of its martyrs and exposing colonial crimes. He noted that events like this symposium are vital for ensuring that these historical injustices remain central to discussions of international human rights and justice.

Towards Global Recognition

The symposium’s conclusion is expected to yield significant recommendations, including calls for broader international recognition of the Laghouat massacre as a crime against humanity. Advocates urge the Algerian government to pursue this recognition through diplomatic and legal channels, emphasizing the importance of challenging colonial narratives in international forums.

The commemoration of the Laghouat massacre serves not only as a tribute to the resilience and sacrifice of its victims but also as a powerful reminder of Algeria’s enduring struggle for justice, dignity, and historical truth.

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