Algeria’s Foreign Minister Calls for International Law to Criminalize Colonialism
Ahmed Attaf’s landmark speech at the Algiers conference signals a new phase in Africa’s pursuit of historical justice, linking the continent’s past with ongoing struggles in Western Sahara and Palestine.
A Paradigm Shift in Demanding Justice
In a historic address that could redefine post-colonial justice, Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf has called for the comprehensive criminalization of colonialism under international law. Speaking at the International Conference on the Criminalization of Colonialism in Africa, Attaf argued that Africa must move beyond merely condemning specific colonial practices to outlawing the very system of colonialism itself.
“The time has come to demand the criminalization of colonialism itself in international law, rather than merely criminalizing some of its practices,” Attaf declared before an assembly of African leaders and diplomats at the International Conference Center in Algiers.
Beyond Symbolism: The Legal and Practical Implications
This represents a significant escalation in the global conversation about colonial reparations. Legal experts note that while international law has mechanisms addressing war crimes and crimes against humanity, colonialism as an institution has never been explicitly criminalized in the manner Attaf proposes.
“This isn’t just about historical accounting,” said Dr. Fatima Bensaid, a professor of international law at the University of Algiers, who was not present at the conference. “Criminalizing colonialism would create new legal pathways for restitution claims and potentially reshape how international courts view historical injustices.”
Attaf emphasized that Africa has “every right to demand recognition of the colonial crimes committed against its peoples,” describing this recognition as “the beginning of a necessary path to redress the continent and restore its historical dignity.”
The Unfinished Business of Decolonization
The Foreign Minister pointed to what he called Africa’s “one existing colony” – Western Sahara – as evidence that the colonial era is not entirely in the past. His characterization of the territory as “the last territory suffering from colonialism on the continent” aligns with Algeria’s longstanding position on the conflict and highlights how historical and contemporary liberation struggles remain interconnected in African diplomacy.
In a powerful rhetorical move, Attaf invoked the words of the late South African President Nelson Mandela: “Freedom in Africa remains incomplete without freedom in Palestine.” This connection between African and Palestinian struggles underscores a broader geopolitical alignment that has gained renewed prominence amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The Path Forward: Reparations and Restitution
Beyond criminalization, Attaf asserted Africa’s right to demand reparations and the return of looted property as “a legitimate right guaranteed by international legislation and charters.” This positions the criminalization debate within the broader framework of restorative justice, where legal recognition is seen as a prerequisite for material restitution.
The conference itself was framed as fulfilling a “trust placed upon the shoulders of African leaders – the trust of the ancestors who sacrificed for the continent’s freedom.” This language suggests a generational responsibility that current African leaders feel toward completing the work of earlier independence movements.
Regional and Global Context
The timing of this conference is significant, coming amid renewed global discussions about colonial-era restitution. Several European museums and governments have begun returning artifacts to their countries of origin, while the economic legacy of colonialism remains a subject of intense debate in international forums.
Algeria, as a leading voice in both African and Arab diplomatic circles, appears to be positioning itself at the forefront of this movement. By hosting this conference and delivering such a comprehensive framework for addressing colonial injustices, Algeria signals its intention to keep these issues central to continental and global diplomacy.
As Attaf concluded, the goal is “collective action to write a new chapter that establishes peoples’ rights to freedom, sovereignty, and historical justice.” Whether this call will translate into concrete legal and diplomatic initiatives remains to be seen, but the Algiers conference marks a potentially transformative moment in how former colonial powers and formerly colonized nations address their shared history.