Emmanuel Macron has finally set the record straight. Seventy years after the start of the Algerian War (1954-1962), the President of the Republic recognizes – in a press release published on Friday, November 1 – the responsibility of France in the murder committed in March 1957, in the middle of Battle of Algiers, by Larbi Ben M’hidi. Until now, the theory of suicide, presented by the army at that time, had never been denied by the French State, although General Paul Aussaresses admitted, in 2001, to having hanged him.
“ [M. Macron] recognizes today that Larbi Ben M’hidi, national hero of Algeria and one of the six leaders of the FLN [Front de libération nationale] who launched the insurrection of November 1, 1954, was assassinated by French soldiers under the command of General Aussaresses..
This gesture is all the stronger because Larbi Ben M’hidi is an emblem of his country’s independence, but also a personality appreciated by the French military and intellectuals. “ “He was the revolutionary idealist, the politician, the theorist (…) He was convinced that political action would bring victory and he neglected military support (…)”the journalist Yves Courrière wrote about him in his book Leopard time (Fayard, 1969).
Killed by Paul Aussaresses
It was Benjamin Stora who proposed to Emmanuel Macron to restore the historical truth about the death at the age of 34 of this man considered the “Algerian Jean Moulin”. “He is the most important leader of the Revolution of the War of Independence who was assassinated by the French special services”explains to World the historian. For him, the gesture of the President of the Republic” recognizes the political legitimacy of the struggle of Algerian nationalists”.
Even a formidable enemy like General Marcel Bigeard (a colonel at the time), at the head of the 3my colonial parachute regiment during the battle of Algiers, will tell about him that he “It was the best, really.” On February 23, 1957, his command managed to arrest Larbi Ben M’hidi, political-military leader of the FLN in the Algiers region. He was found dead a few days later.
According to the version then provided by the French authorities, Larbi Ben M’hidi committed suicide in his cell on the night of March 3 to 4 by hanging himself with the shreds of his shirt, which he had turned into a rope that he tied. to a window bar. In reality, the colonel of the National Liberation Army (ALN) was assassinated by “Commander O” alias Paul Aussaresses – officially responsible for coordinating the work of intelligence, police and justice agents during the battle of Algiers – and six of his men.
You have 64.21% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
