ALGIERS, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Algeria's Council of the Nation (upper house of parliament) on Sunday adopted a draft law criminalizing French colonization, a month after the lower house passed the same legislation.

The law, which declares France's colonization of Algeria from 1830 to 1962 a crime, was described by officials as "a step to preserve national memory and honor the sacrifices made during the colonial period."

In December 2025, the lower house unanimously adopted the draft law calling for an official apology from France and affirming Algeria's right to reparations.

However, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune later clarified that Algeria seeks France's recognition of its crimes rather than financial compensation. To this end, a joint parliamentary committee was established to resolve differences between the two houses and produce a unified text.

The final version adopted by both houses reportedly removed broad reparations clauses and apologies from France, while retaining provisions related to victims of French nuclear tests in the Sahara.

The diplomatic rift between Algeria and France has deepened recently, fueled by disputes over immigration, historical grievances, and France's backing of Morocco regarding Western Sahara. Tebboune has maintained that direct talks with French President Emmanuel Macron are the only path to resolving these bilateral issues.

In 2021, Macron acknowledged that the colonization of Algeria was a "crime against humanity," but stopped short of offering a formal state apology. ■