French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged on Friday that the narrative propagated by the French government about Larbi Ben M'hidi, the Algerian revolutionary leader during the War of Independence, was a lie.

Back then, the official French narrative stated that after his arrest in February 1957, Ben M'hidi attempted suicide and died en route to the hospital.

However, Macron revealed that French soldiers actually murdered him under the supervision of a French General called Paul Aussaresses. Early in the 2000s, Aussaresses had admitted this crime against the Algerian revolutionary leader.

The French presidency stated, "He recognized today that Larbi Ben M'hidi, a national hero for Algeria... was assassinated by French soldiers," marking a gesture towards reconciliation on the 70th anniversary of the revolt that ignited the war.

Vidéo de l'arrestation de Larbi Ben M'Hidi le 23 février 1957. Il sera assassiné par Paul Aussaresses le 4 mars 1957 à l'âge de 34 ans. pic.twitter.com/D7DsdPCiO6

— KARIM (@KarimTlemcen_) October 17, 2024

Over 1 million people were killed by the French during Algeria's War of Independence from 1954 to 1962 after an era of French colonization. Since taking office in 2017, Macron has pursued various reconciliation efforts but has refrained from issuing a formal apology for French imperialism.

It is worth noting that Ben M'hidi was one of the founding members of the National Liberation Front (FLN), which initiated the armed revolt against French imperialism and the occupation of Algeria. 

Macron questions existence of Algeria before French colonization

In 2021, Macron made several controversial, shocking, and unprecedented statements toward Algeria and its president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, whom he accused of being influenced by those around him despite the good relations Macron said he has with the Algerian President.

Macron's statements came, then, during a two-hour meeting with 18 young French youths of Algerian origin in the Elysee Palace, whose aim was to 'freely' discuss the French 'conflict' with Algeria, which saw France murdering and dismembering Algerians. The meeting was reported on by the French Le Monde.

Macron condemned what he called "hate towards France" in Algerian society, saying it is the basis of the official history of Algeria, which he denounced as "completely re-written" and "unfactual."

"The Algerian official history is not based on facts but rather on a discourse which, it must be said, is based on hatred of France."

Read more: France-Algeria relations remain tense after decades of independence