Will Macron's new commission face up to all of France's colonial atrocities? | Africa

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Filming for the BBC in Niger, we were told by many Nigeriens that we were the first ever to come and ask about their history
‘There must be a process where those affected can give evidence on the crimes that initiated and sustained colonialism.’ A still from African Apocalypse. Photograph: African Apocalypse
‘There must be a process where those affected can give evidence on the crimes that initiated and sustained colonialism.’ A still from African Apocalypse. Photograph: African Apocalypse
Tue 16 Feb 2021 06.31 EST
Last modified on Tue 16 Feb 2021 06.34 EST
During the French presidential campaign of 2017, Emmanuel Macron told a young Algerian that colonialism was “a crime against humanity”. His mailbox was immediately filled with angry letters from former French-Algerian settlers. A few weeks later, he retracted his remarks. “I’m sorry for wounding you, causing pain. I did not want to offend you,” he assured the colonists.

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