France to support Algerian war soldiers

Nearly 60 years after the end of the Algerian war the government is to honour President Macron鈥檚 election pledge and give help to the harkis , Muslim Algerian troops who supported France.

Connexion journalist

Published Tuesday 02 October 2018 - 16:11 Modified Tuesday 02 October 2018 - 16:11

The French army had recruited 150,000 Algerians to fight in the 1958-62 war of independence but when it pulled out it is thought up to 75,000 men plus their families were left in Algeria to face bloody reprisals.

Up to 90,000 troops were repatriated to France but shunted into insanitary camps or tented villages before being housed in large urban estates without any real integration.

It was 1974 before they were recognised as anciens combattants with welfare rights, 1983 that the war started to be taught in schools and 1999 that it was ratified as a war. Now reparations and an official recognition are expected.

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