France's 'heinous crimes' against Algerians 'cannot be forgotten': Tebboune

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has said that the French empire's “heinous crimes” committed during its colonisation of Algeria “can’t be forgotten,”  Anadolu Agency reported. 

Tabboune made the comments on Sunday, which marked the 77th anniversary of the 8 May 1945 massacre of thousands of Algerians demanding independence by French colonial forces. 

The massacre was one of the most disturbing crimes committed by the French army, and official Algerian figures estimate that 45,000 people were killed on that day. 

The moment marked a turning point in the country’s history, said Tebboune. 

Algeria was an especially coveted colony for France, and its people were brutally repressed and were one of the last to gain independence from the French empire. 

Around 1.5 million Algerians were killed and millions more were forced to flee in the nation’s eight year struggle that began in 1954. 

Algiers has repeatedly asked the French government to recognise the crimes committed by the French empire during the 132-year colonisation of the north African country.

France has never officially apologised for the atrocities committed during its rule over the North African country.