Unveiling Historical Theft: Fatima Zohra Benbraham Exposes France’s Exploitation of Algeria’s Wealth

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | January 15th, 2025 — Fatima Zohra Benbraham, a distinguished Algerian lawyer and researcher in legal history, has made startling revelations regarding France’s systematic plundering of Algeria’s wealth, particularly during the colonial era. In a statement delivered today, Benbraham exposed the scale of France’s theft of significant amounts of gold, silver, and funds from Algeria, offering a detailed account that sheds new light on the nation’s painful history of exploitation.

Benbraham’s revelations provide a chilling glimpse into the events of 1830, when the French invasion of Algeria led to the looting of the country’s precious resources. According to the lawyer, French forces stole approximately 68 tons of gold and 141 tons of silver, a vast amount of wealth that was systematically siphoned off by colonial forces. She elaborated on the magnitude of the theft, recounting that the French knew the value of the treasure they were pilfering, which was carefully hidden and secured within Algeria at the time.

Revelations on the Scale of the Looting

♦ The French colonizers, during their initial days in 1830, looted Algeria’s treasures, with evidence showing the theft of 68 tons of gold and 141 tons of silver, not accounting for other precious jewelry and items.

♦ The value of the stolen wealth at the time was equivalent to five times the value of France itself.

♦ The French forces were well aware that the days of King Charles X were numbered, as he was due to leave France within 10 to 20 days.

♦ The looted treasures were placed aboard three ships, with one ship heading towards Marseille, while the other ships followed different routes. It is said that King Charles X personally seized the contents of the latter ships for himself and his entourage.

♦ A simple calculation reveals the enormous scale of the looted wealth. If the amount sent to Marseille equaled five times the value of France, the total amount aboard the three ships likely equaled 15 times the value of France.

♦ The French colonizers destroyed everything before their departure in 1962, stealing archives and anything of significance.

Benbraham also pointed to the alarming historical pattern of exploitation that continued well after Algeria gained its independence in 1962. Despite the nation’s liberation, the consequences of the colonial theft remain ever-present in Algeria’s economic and social struggles. The lawyer emphasized the enduring impact of France’s actions, which were not limited to economic loss but also deeply scarred the collective memory of Algeria’s people.

In her impassioned statement, Benbraham criticized France for its role in the historical destruction of Algeria, denouncing the systematic theft of resources that stripped the country of its wealth and left a profound legacy of inequality and underdevelopment.

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