Algeria's parliament has unanimously passed a law declaring France's colonisation of the North African state a crime, and demanding an apology and reparations. The law also criminalises the glorification of colonialism, state-run TV reports.
The vote is the latest sign of increasingly strained diplomatic relations between the two countries, with some observers saying they are at their lowest since Algeria gained independence 63 years ago.
France's colonialisation of Algeria between 1830 and 1962 was marked by mass killings, large-scale deportations and ended in a bloody war of independence. Algeria claims that the war killed 1.5 million people, while French historians estimate the death toll to be much lower.
French President Emmanuel Macron has previously acknowledged the colonisation of Algeria was a crime against humanity but has not offered an official apology.
During the parliamentary session, lawmakers wore scarves in national colors and chanted, long live Algeria as they applauded the bill's passage.
The legislation asserts that France has legal responsibility for the tragedies it caused, and it demands that full and fair compensation is an inalienable right of the Algerian state and its people.
France has not yet commented on the vote. This comes as pressure grows on Western powers to address reparations for slavery and colonialism while also returning looted artefacts kept in their museums.
Algerian lawmakers have specifically demanded that France return a 16th Century bronze cannon, known as Baba Merzoug, which was taken after French forces captured Algiers in 1830 and is currently located in Brest, France.
In 2020, France returned the remains of 24 Algerian fighters who perished resisting colonial forces in the 19th century.
Last month, Algeria hosted a conference of African states aimed at promoting justice and reparations, with Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf stressing that a legal framework would ensure that restitution is neither regarded as a gift nor a favour.
Diplomatic relations between Algeria and France worsened after Macron voiced support for Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara, a territory Algeria supports the independence of.
The friction between the nations has intensified coinciding with several high-profile arrests and tensions surrounding freedom of expression in Algeria, illustrating the complexities of their historical relationship.
