Sétif, 80 years later: Algeria receives France on its terms, memory intact

Algeria received French Minister Delegate for the Armed Forces Alice Rufo in Sétif, a city deeply scarred by the massacres of May 8, 1945. This commemoration, occurring on the 80th anniversary of the tragic events, is more than a simple act of remembrance; it is a deliberate assertion by Algeria of its terms for normalizing relations with France. The choice of Sétif, a name that resonates with profound pain in every Algerian family, was not accidental. It underscores Algeria's insistence that the past, particularly the brutal colonial repression, must be acknowledged before any genuine future dialogue can unfold.

Minister Rufo laid a wreath in homage to Bouzid Saâl, a young Algerian nationalist shot by French forces for displaying the Algerian flag on that fateful day. While Rufo acknowledged the "tragic events" that occurred in Sétif, Guelma, and Kherrata as France celebrated its victory over Nazism, her words fell short of the full, official apology Algeria has long demanded. Nevertheless, Algeria deemed this step sufficient to proceed with the ceremony, signaling a willingness to move forward, but only on its own conditions. This carefully orchestrated event highlights Algeria's strategy: to leverage its historical narrative as a prerequisite for diplomatic engagement, ensuring that any thaw in relations is built upon a foundation of recognized memory and respect for its sovereignty.

The current warming of relations follows a particularly acrimonious period, triggered in the summer of 2024 when France supported an autonomy plan for Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty—a non-negotiable red line for Algeria. The subsequent recall of Algeria's ambassador, the arrest of writer Boualem Sansal, and reciprocal diplomatic expulsions created a deep rift. Algeria's decision to allow this commemoration, and indeed to host a French minister in Sétif on May 8th, signifies a strategic recalibration. It demonstrates that while Algeria seeks to normalize ties, it will not compromise on its core principles or historical grievances. The message to Paris is clear: reconciliation will proceed at Algeria's pace and on its terms, with memory serving as the non-negotiable cornerstone of any future cooperation.

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le 8 mai 1945, alors que la France célébrait la victoire contre la barbarie, il y avait en même temps des événements tragiques qui se passaient à Sétif, Guelma et Kherrata