In the vast, silent expanse of the Algerian Sahara lies an enduring legacy of destruction, a shadow cast by French nuclear testing that continues to harm lives and the environment decades later.
Between 1960 and 1966, France conducted 17 nuclear tests in Algeria, seeking to secure its position as a nuclear power. What followed was not just a series of detonations but an indelible scar on Algeria’s landscape and its people. The tests left behind radioactive contamination, environmental degradation, and generations of human suffering. Despite this, efforts to achieve accountability and justice have been met with silence and neglect.

Recent international attention has brought the issue back into focus. In September 2023, Dr. Marcos A. Orellana - the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights - sent letters to the French and Algerian governments, urging them to address this dark chapter of their shared history. Yet the governments’ ongoing refusal to engage underscores a troubling lack of commitment to justice and transparency.

The story of French nuclear testing in Algeria

On February 13, 1960, France detonated its first nuclear bomb, Gerboise Bleue, in the Algerian desert near Reggane. The explosion marked the beginning of France’s nuclear weapons program. Over the next six years, 16 more tests followed at Reggane and In Ekker. These experiments were designed to bolster France’s military strength, but their impact on Algeria’s people and environment was catastrophic.

Even after Algeria gained independence in 1962, France continued its nuclear testing program under the terms of the Evian Accords. This agreement allowed the French military to use Algerian territory as a testing ground for several years after independence. These tests turned the desert into a laboratory for France’s nuclear ambitions, leaving behind widespread radioactive contamination and exposing countless individuals to dangerous levels of radiation.

The Human Toll of Nuclear Testing

For the communities living near the testing sites, the fallout from these experiments has been nothing short of catastrophic. Families suffer from a range of severe health issues, including cancers, congenital disabilities, and respiratory diseases. Many individuals who were exposed to radioactive fallout during and after the tests have died from radiation-induced illnesses. Survivors often find themselves marginalized, struggling to access healthcare or recognition for their suffering.

The environmental consequences are equally dire. Vast areas of once-productive land remain uninhabitable, forcing local populations to abandon agricultural practices that sustained them for generations. The contamination of the soil and water has devastated livelihoods, creating a cycle of poverty and displacement in affected regions. The testing sites, particularly Reggane and In Ekker, remain hazardous, with buried radioactive waste posing a long-term threat.

To this day, both the French and Algerian governments have failed to provide clear information about the extent of contamination, the locations of buried radioactive materials, or the full scope of health risks faced by affected populations. This lack of transparency has left victims in a state of uncertainty, unable to fully understand or address the dangers they face.

The Role of Detention Camps on Radioactive Sites

The tragedy of French nuclear testing is compounded by the use of radioactive sites as detention camps during the 1990s, specifically between 1992 and 1995. Algerian authorities established camps such as In M’Guel, Reggane, and Oued Namous to imprison thousands of political detainees during a period of internal unrest. Many of these detainees were held arbitrarily, without trial, and subjected to harsh conditions.

The use of these sites for detention exposed prisoners to dangerously high levels of radiation. Survivors report long-term health complications, including cancers and other radiation-induced illnesses, while many detainees succumbed to these conditions. Evidence suggests that detainees were treated as expendable, with no regard for their safety or well-being. This dual injustice, arbitrary imprisonment in radioactive environments remains an unresolved and overlooked chapter in Algeria’s history.

The Special Rapporteur’s Call for Action

In September 2024, the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights took a firm step by addressing the French and Algerian governments in letters that called for concrete action. The letters demanded accountability, transparency, and reparations for the victims of nuclear testing.

The Special Rapporteur called on France to declassify information about its nuclear tests, including detailed maps of contaminated areas and the locations of buried radioactive waste. The letters also urged France to acknowledge its historical responsibility, compensate victims, and provide full transparency to affected communities.

For Algeria, the Special Rapporteur emphasized the need for proactive measures. The government was urged to monitor health impacts, rehabilitate contaminated areas, and ensure that citizens are properly informed about the risks they face. Algeria was also called upon to collaborate with France and international organizations to address the damage effectively.

Despite the gravity of these calls, neither government has responded, a silence that speaks volumes about their unwillingness to confront the past or prioritize the well-being of affected populations.

Advocacy Efforts and the Fight for Justice

Shoaa for Human Rights have been at the forefront of advocacy efforts to bring attention to this issue. Shoaa has worked tirelessly to document the impact of French nuclear testing, bring into light the affected communities, and demand justice from both France and Algeria. Their efforts include engaging with international bodies, publishing reports, and calling for greater transparency and accountability.

Shoaa emphasizes that both governments share responsibility for addressing this tragedy. France, as the initiator of the tests, must fully acknowledge its colonial legacy, declassify all relevant documents, and provide reparations to victims. Algeria, as the custodian of its citizens’ rights, must prioritize the health and safety of those affected, push for reparations through diplomatic channels, and ensure that contaminated areas are rehabilitated.

The recent letters from the Special Rapporteur offer a glimmer of hope. They have reignited the conversation about French nuclear testing in Algeria, drawing international attention to the issue and pressuring both governments to act.

A Path Forward

The legacy of French nuclear testing in Algeria is a reminder of the long-term consequences of nuclear ambition. For the people living in the shadow of this tragedy, justice remains elusive. However, renewed advocacy and international attention offer a chance to address this historical wrong.

France and Algeria must move beyond denial and neglect, acknowledging their shared responsibility to the victims and the environment. Transparency, accountability, and reparations are essential to healing the wounds of the past and ensuring that this dark chapter is never repeated. The world must not allow this tragedy to remain hidden, it is time for justice to prevail.