French Ambassador Speaks for the First Time After Returning to Algeria
By Dr. Hana Saada
French Ambassador to Algeria Stéphane Romatet has made his first public remarks following his return to Algiers, coinciding with France’s participation in commemorations marking the 81st anniversary of the 8 May 1945 massacres in Sétif.
In a video message shared by French MP representing the Algerian diaspora in France, Toufik Khedim, Romatet said he was “happy to be back in Algeria,” noting that his visit began in Sétif during the official remembrance ceremonies.
He described his return as personally significant after a year-long absence, saying the moment carried strong symbolic resonance given the historical date.
Romatet added that his arrival in Sétif was particularly striking, stating that “from the moment the aircraft wheels touched the runway, I felt a strong sense of return to Algerian soil.”
His remarks came as French Minister Delegate for the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Alice Rufo attended the commemorations in Sétif, where she said “courage is required to face history as it unfolded,” in reference to the 1945 events.
The ceremonies mark Algeria’s annual Day of Memory, commemorating the killing of thousands of Algerians by French colonial forces in Sétif, Guelma and Kherrata during demonstrations on 8 May 1945.
The events remain a central point of historical contention in Franco-Algerian relations, shaping a diplomatic relationship that continues to oscillate between pragmatic cooperation and unresolved colonial memory.
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