Benjamin Stora: Facing the Colonial Past is a Long-Term Process

French historian Benjamin Stora has ruled out the immediate resumption of the joint Algerian-French history commission, arguing that the essential work of addressing 132 years of colonial history has not yet truly begun. Speaking at the Algiers International Book Fair, Stora emphasized that dealing with land confiscations, massacres, and resistance requires patient, long-term efforts. He provided a mixed assessment of historical memory files, acknowledging successes such as the recognition of the murders of Ali Boumendjel and Maurice Audin and the repatriation of remains, while citing failures regarding French nuclear tests in the Sahara and chemical warfare archives. Stora warned against the risk of the French far-right dismantling these achievements and urged that they be cemented for younger generations. He also introduced his latest book, which shifts from written archives to visual imagery to explore how societies shape their historical perceptions.