Juliette Jabkhiro

PARIS (Reuters), France has announced Friday that the country will open its most secretive parts of its archives on the Algerian War of Independence to the public. This will shed light on the worst chapters of France’s 20th-century history.

France waged war on an independent movement within its colony between 1954 and 1962. History tells us that hundreds of thousands died in Algeria, while French forces, along with their proxy, used torture to kill opponents.

Roselyne Bachelot (French Culture Minister) stated when she declared that the archive would be open for inspection.

France became shaken during the Algerian fighting. A failed coup attempt was made against Charles de Gaulle in an effort to overthrow him. The conflict remains a sensitive topic that has caused division in France almost 60 years later.

Benjamin Stora (a French historian who is well-known in Algeria), says that the first step to a better understanding about the war was declassifying the archives.

Stora stated to Reuters that it was possible to determine which individuals were being monitored, followed and arrested. It’s all the chain that leads up to repressive actions that can be revealed.”

He said that archives could help to explain certain deaths, which are still unsolved today.

Algeria lived for 132 more years under French control until 1962 when it was liberated.

Two days following Jean-Yves Le Drian’s visit to Algiers, the French Foreign Minister made this announcement. Following a severe decline in ties between France and Algeria, Le Drian met with Abdelmadjid Tebboune to rekindle dialogue.