Emmanuel Macron decided, as he had been asked in connection with the Stora report on the Algerian war, to facilitate access to classified archives. Following the recognition by France a few days ago of the fact that nationalist leader Ali Boumendjel had been tortured and murdered, the head of state wants to show that he continues to make progress on the sensitive issue of Franco-French relations. .
This is another concrete step forward that Emmanuel Macron is taking in his process of uniting memories. In a press release, the President of the Republic announces that he has taken “the decision to allow the archive services to continue from tomorrow (Wednesday, March 10) until declassification of documents covered by the secrecy of national defense ”.
From now on, archivists are no longer required to validate each declassified document sheet by sheet, but can do so box by box. A simplification implemented for the period 1954-1970, covering the Algerian war.
It will therefore be possible for historians to access all the documents that the state has been able to produce and store. All? Not yet, since it was specified by the Élysée that a certain number of those who would remain extremely sensitive to national security would always be subject to protection without specifying the selection criteria. Archive on nuclear test in the Sahara they are “non-transferable”.
One adviser to the president recalls the willingness of Emmanuel Macron “to face sensitive historical issues” when another would think that this decision brings “the proof that we can move forward in small steps while walking very fast”.
First, it will not change much
Raphaëlle Branche, historian, specialist in violence in colonial situations
.
