The history of French colonialism in Algeria is one of deep exploitation, brutal oppression, and systematic looting of the country’s wealth and resources. From the occupation in 1830 to Algeria’s hard-won independence in 1962, France not only subjugated the Algerian people but also extracted immense wealth, including natural resources, agricultural lands, and financial assets. Recent historical research suggests that the total value of Algeria’s looted resources and wealth, when adjusted for today’s economic conditions, exceeds €800 billion. This report examines France’s plundering of Algeria and the implications for historical accountability and reparations.
The Initial Looting: Gold, Silver, and Economic Pillage
One of the first acts of colonial exploitation occurred with the seizure of Algeria’s financial reserves. In 1832, shortly after the occupation of Algiers, French forces looted the treasury of the ruling Dey, Hussein Pasha. Historian Faisal bin Said Talilani has documented that this included approximately 110 tons of gold and silver, along with precious stones, luxury textiles, and foreign currency reserves. At the time, this wealth was valued at 80 million francs; today, it is estimated to be worth over €80 billion. This initial act of theft set a precedent for systematic economic exploitation.
Confiscation of Agricultural Land and Resources
French colonial authorities enacted policies that displaced indigenous Algerians from their fertile agricultural lands, redistributing these lands to European settlers from France, Spain, Italy, and Malta. The Indigenous People Law of 1871 legally sanctioned this land grab, reducing native Algerians to serfs on their own lands. They were allowed to retain only a fraction of their production, with the bulk of their agricultural output enriching the French economy.
Additionally, the French appropriated Algeria’s rich mineral resources. Algeria’s oil reserves, discovered in 1956, along with iron, coal, and other valuable minerals, were systematically exploited for the benefit of French industries. Algerian historians argue that France’s post-war economic recovery was significantly bolstered by these stolen resources.
Violation of Religious and Cultural Assets
In 1843, France issued a decree to confiscate Islamic endowments (waqf) across Algeria. These endowments, which historically funded religious, educational, and social welfare institutions, were absorbed into the French colonial administration. This act violated the Treaty of Surrender signed in 1830 between Hussein Dey and the French, which had guaranteed the protection of Islamic institutions.
Systematic Oppression: The 1870 Crémieux Decree and Discriminatory Laws
The Crémieux Decree of 1870 granted French citizenship to Algeria’s Jewish population while excluding Muslim Arabs and Berbers, effectively institutionalising racial discrimination. This decree deepened the divide between communities and reinforced the second-class status of indigenous Algerians. Furthermore, strict movement restrictions were imposed on Algerians, requiring them to obtain colonial approval to travel within their own country.
The Human Cost: Torture, Massacres, and Forced Displacement
Beyond economic and resource exploitation, the Algerian people endured extreme violence at the hands of French colonial authorities. Between 1954 and 1962, during the Algerian War of Independence, an estimated 1.5 million Algerians were killed. However, historical records indicate that the total number of Algerians who died due to French colonial policies over 132 years exceeds five million. Massacres, such as those in Setif and Guelma in 1945, along with widespread use of torture and extrajudicial killings, remain a stain on France’s historical record.
Nuclear Testing and Environmental Devastation
Even after Algeria’s independence, France continued to exploit and damage Algerian land. Between 1960 and 1966, France conducted nuclear tests in the Sahara Desert, exposing thousands of Algerians to radiation. The long-term effects of these tests continue to impact generations of Algerians, causing cancer and other radiation-related illnesses.
Calls for Reparations and Historical Accountability
The Algerian government, along with numerous historians and activists, has repeatedly called on France to acknowledge and compensate for its colonial crimes. Some of the key demands include:
- Return of Algeria’s looted gold and financial reserves, valued at over €800 billion.
- Restitution of cultural and religious heritage, including Islamic endowments seized during colonial rule.
- Compensation for agricultural land confiscation and economic exploitation.
- Official French acknowledgment of colonial crimes, including the use of torture, massacres, and forced displacement.
- Recognition and remediation of nuclear test sites, providing medical care to affected populations and cleaning up contaminated areas.
France’s colonial past in Algeria remains an unresolved historical injustice. The systematic looting of Algeria’s wealth and the atrocities committed against its people have left a lasting impact that continues to shape Algerian society today. As France engages in diplomatic discussions with Algeria, the issue of historical accountability and reparations must be addressed. The Algerian government should insist on a formal dialogue, involving historians and experts, to evaluate the full extent of colonial exploitation and establish a path toward restitution.
The wounds of colonialism run deep, but acknowledging the past is the first step towards justice. Algeria’s demand for the return of its stolen wealth is not just a matter of economic compensation; it is a call for the recognition of historical truth and the dignity of a nation that endured 132 years of foreign rule.
