By Sofia Dominguez-Trejo
“Hoorah for France,” read the note from President Charles de Gaulle to his army minister following the detonation of Blue Jerboa, the first nuclear weapon tested in Algeria by France in 1960. Nuclear tests continued through 1966, despite Algeria’s independence in 1962. A total of 17 tests were conducted over the course of six years. France’s continued exercise of power, amid Algeria’s independence, was rationalized by General Charles Ailleret, who led nuclear testing. Ailleret argued that the “total absence of all signs of life” was “essential in choosing the site”. The trope that conquered lands were vast and barren has been one that has been used to justify imperial ambitions from the United States to Australia, as it removes the burden of the imperialist country to reconcile with its actions abroad. The effects of this mentality cannot be overstated, as it resulted in tens of thousands of Algerians being afflicted with life-altering conditions.
Contrary to France’s claims, there were detrimental repercussions to the nuclear testing. 30,000 Algerians resided only a few kilometers away from Blue Jerboa’s detonation site. Effects from this nuclear test appeared decades later, as inhabitants began exhibiting signs of radiation poisoning, which induced life-threatening illnesses. Nuclear fallout was not only contained within Algeria, but also extended to the greater Maghreb, reaching Senegal, the Ivory Coast, Libya, and Burkina Faso. “Between 27,000 and 60,000 Algerians were affected by the radiation levels, according to Abdul Kahdim al- Aboudi, an Algerian professor of nuclear physics at Oran University”. Most of France’s nuclear sites have yet to be decontaminated, and the lack of archival information about the tests leaves Algerians “in the dark about the extent of the threat from radiation”. This inhibits the Algerian government’s ability to take steps to contain radiation, since the specific location of the underground testing sites continues to be known only by France. These factors open the window for new generations of Algerians to face the life-altering effects of France’s nuclear legacy.
Today, France continues to adhere to its imperial doctrine, despite its attempts to portray itself as a global power that cares about international human rights and the decolonization struggle. France’s actions support this conclusion. The state continues to lie about the harm caused by its testing in Algeria. The International Committee on Abolishing Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) found that “Until 2025…France maintained “a reluctant attitude” towards dealing with the health consequences of the tests.” The attitudes described in this report are further supported by France’s voting records at the United Nations, as France has repeatedly voted against resolutions advocating for nuclear justice and addressing the legacy of nuclear weapons.
To France’s credit, parliament did enact the Morin law in 2010, which seeks to compensate victims who were harmed during the nuclear tests. However, this compensation is inaccessible for many rural Algerians and does not address the tens of thousands of second and third-generation Algerians who face effects from the nuclear fallout that has not been cleaned up. As of 2021, only one Algerian has been able to access the benefits associated with this law.
France must do more to address the multi-generational harms of its nuclear testing in Northern Africa. Reaching Critical Will (RCW) has outlined some of the steps France can take to address its harmful nuclear legacy. These initiatives include “tak[ing] historical and legal responsibility, declassify[ing] all documents related to these tests, initiat[ing] the decontamination of affected areas, and compensat[ing] the victims.” In addition to France taking action, RCW also calls on Algeria to enact a policy to protect public health and involve citizens in rehabilitation efforts.
