Macron Admits France Killed Him: Who Was Algerian Revolutionary Larbi ben M’hidi?
The image of his defiant smile at his executioners remains etched in memory.
On the 70th anniversary of Algeria’s War of Independence, French President Emmanuel Macron officially finally acknowledged France’s role in the execution of Mohamed Larbi ben M’hidi, a leading figure in Algeria’s fight for independence. Macron’s statement marked a significant break from the long-standing French narrative, which had falsely claimed that ben M’hidi died by suicide in his prison cell.
Ben M’hidi, known for his defiant smile in the face of his tormentors, remains an enduring symbol of resistance. He was brutally tortured, his nails and teeth were removed, and his skin was flayed, before being hanged by French soldiers under the command of General Paul Aussaresses in 1957.
For the Truth
Seventy years after the start of the Algerian War of Independence (1954-1962), Emmanuel Macron has finally addressed a long-standing historical truth. In a statement released on Friday, November 1, the French president acknowledged France’s responsibility for the assassination of Larbi ben M’hidi in March 1957, during the height of the Battle of Algiers.
Previously, the French government had refrained from denying the military’s claim that ben M’hidi died by suicide—a theory maintained despite General Paul Aussaresses’s 2001 admission that he personally hanged ben M’hidi.
This admission follows a series of similar acknowledgments by Macron regarding France’s colonial-era crimes. On September 13, 2018, he admitted the French army's responsibility for the abduction and torture-killing of French leftist activist and Algerian independence campaigner Maurice Audin in 1957.
In 2021, Macron also acknowledged the torture and murder of Algerian revolutionary and lawyer Ali Boumendjel, whose death had been falsely reported as a suicide.
The French president’s gradual recognition of these crimes, including the 1961 massacre of Algerian protesters in Paris, reflects his strategy of “incremental acknowledgment” of France’s colonial atrocities in Algeria, a policy praised by some historians but criticized as insufficient by others.
In a recent piece for Asharq al-Awsat, journalist Michel Abou Najem noted the irony that France, which has long admitted its crimes in Algeria piece by piece, is now praising ben M’hidi after years of official lies about his death.
Abou Najem highlighted how the French presidency’s statement focused on ben M’hidi’s early life, detailing his primary education, secondary schooling, membership in the scouts, and his early involvement in the independence movement following the 1945 Constantine massacres. He also noted his pivotal role in the Algerian revolution, which saw him rise as one of its key leaders.
The official statement, Abou Najm added, acknowledged that ben M’hidi was the architect of the first congress of the National Liberation Front (FLN) and was entrusted with leading the Algiers region.
However, he questioned the emphasis on a single figure, arguing, “The truth, Macron, is that the French responsibility extends not only to the assassination of ben M’hidi but to the deaths of ten million Algerians since 1830 [..] the reality is that ben M’hidi was flayed, not just executed.”
The statement also praised an iconic image of ben M’hidi smiling with his hands bound, a powerful symbol of his courage and charisma, which left a lasting impression on the French soldiers who captured him.
Historian Benjamin Stora, a key advocate for Franco-Algerian reconciliation, reportedly urged Macron to abandon the official narrative surrounding ben M’hidi’s death. According to Le Monde, Stora sees Macron’s admission as an implicit acknowledgment of the political legitimacy of Algeria’s independence struggle.
For many Algerians, ben M’hidi’s legacy endures not only in his defiance but also as a painful reminder of the countless lives lost during the country’s fight for freedom.
Salute for the Leader
Mohamed Larbi ben M’hidi, born in 1923 in Ain M’lila, Oum el-Bouaghi province, is revered in Algeria as a national icon and one of the architects of the Algerian War of Independence. Known for his famous declaration, “Throw the revolution into the street, and the people will embrace it,” and his unwavering resolve, “I want to be tortured so I can be sure my mortal body will not betray me,” ben M’hidi’s legacy endures as a symbol of resistance and sacrifice.
Captured in February 1957 by French colonial forces while leading the Battle of Algiers, ben M’hidi became a legend for his defiant posture—smiling, even as he stood handcuffed before his captors.
He was tasked with launching the revolution in the Oran region, where he engaged with local tribes and secured the support of some. Despite limited resources, he successfully organized, recruited, and armed revolutionary fighters in preparation for liberation.
On October 23, 1954, he joined the historic meeting of the Group of Six, who formed the National Liberation Front (FLN) and set November 1, 1954, at midnight (the night of October 31) as the official start of the revolution.
Nicknamed “Larbi the Wise,” ben M’hidi’s leadership even earned reluctant admiration from French paratroopers. General Marcel Bigeard, who commanded his capture, famously described him as “a worthy enemy” and saluted him before his execution, lamenting, “If I had ten men like him amongst my troops, I would have conquered the world.”
Ben M’hidi was officially reported captured on February 23, 1957, by Bigeard’s paratroopers. However, French General Paul Aussaresses later revealed in his memoirs that the arrest had taken place a week earlier, between February 15 and 16.
After his arrest, ben M’hidi was taken to Bigeard’s command center, where he endured relentless interrogations. Refusing to betray his comrades or reveal revolutionary plans, he was brutally tortured, including having the skin on his face entirely flayed. French soldiers found only a copy of the “Soummam Conference” manifesto, a key document outlining the Algerian revolution's strategy.
The circumstances surrounding his death remain contentious. Official French accounts claimed ben M’hidi committed suicide in his cell on the night of March 3–4, 1957. However, Aussaresses admitted in 2001 to Le Monde that he had personally executed ben M’hidi by hanging.
Despite his tragic death, ben M’hidi’s legacy endures as a beacon of Algeria’s fight for independence, and his bravery continues to inspire generations.
Emotional Manipulation
Eldjazair el-Djadida criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for leveraging Algeria’s mounting frustration with his policies to curry favor with Algerian authorities. The newspaper highlighted Macron’s acknowledgment that Mohamed Larbi ben M’hidi did not commit suicide, as previously claimed in official French narratives, but was tortured to death by French criminal forces.
In a November 2 editorial, the newspaper noted that observers largely agree Algeria’s stance toward Macron will remain unchanged. This is due to the deep-seated anger toward the Elysee Palace, fueled by what it called Macron’s “piecemeal decisions” and his tendency to “manipulate Algerians’ emotions from time to time.” Algeria continues to demand a full acknowledgment of French war crimes and crimes against humanity, along with an official apology.
“In yet another stunt, Macron admits that the martyr Mohamed Larbi ben M’hidi was killed by France!” Algerian journalist Oussama Wahid posted on Facebook.
“It’s strange that some consider Macron’s acknowledgment an achievement!”
