Sa’ad bin Atef al-Awlaki, leader of the group al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula, calls for Islamic terrorist attacks against the United States. (@Shariakill / X screen shot courtesy of MEMRI.
| Published July 17, 2025
A recent public call by Yahya Abu Zakariya, an Algerian journalist and political commentator based in Sweden, has ignited a firestorm of debate across Europe and North Africa. In a bold and controversial statement, Zakariya urged Algerian youth to “colonize” France—reframing the language of empire in a way that stunned both critics and supporters. The remarks tapped into deep historical wounds stemming from France’s 132-year occupation of Algeria and struck a nerve in the ongoing struggle over migration, identity, and post-colonial justice. As the comment spread rapidly through social media and international commentary, it became more than just a rhetorical provocation—it symbolized a growing defiance among segments of the North African diaspora, challenging France’s unresolved colonial past and the contemporary barriers that still divide its former colonies from the European mainland.
📰 Key Details
1. The Claim
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The core of the controversy centers on a striking and deliberate statement made by an Algerian journalist residing in Sweden, who publicly called on Algerian youth to “colonize France.” While the full context and intent behind the remark remain debated, the phrase itself was unmistakably provocative—flipping the historical narrative of French imperial conquest on its head. Rather than referring to colonization in a traditional, military sense, the journalist appeared to frame it as a demographic and cultural counterbalance to the centuries of French dominance in North Africa. The call was seen by some as a symbolic act of resistance, urging young Algerians to assert their presence in France through migration, integration, and influence—using numbers, culture, and ambition as their tools.
For others, especially in France, the statement was perceived as inflammatory and deeply offensive. Critics viewed it as a form of reverse colonial rhetoric and even a veiled threat, heightening existing tensions over immigration, assimilation, and national identity. France, already grappling with sensitive debates about its colonial legacy and a rising tide of nationalism, found itself once again facing the ghosts of its imperial past—this time invoked by those on the receiving end of its historical conquests.
Whether seen as a metaphor, a political rallying cry, or an outright challenge, the journalist’s words sparked intense online reactions and reignited conversations about the unresolved consequences of colonialism in the modern age.
2. Context & Response
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While I couldn’t find mainstream coverage of that exact call-to-colonize statement, tensions between Algeria and France have been intensifying. For example, senior Algerian officials—such as the Speaker of the Parliament—have proposed passing legislation criminalizing French colonialism.
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Additionally, commentary in France has become increasingly sensitive around colonial history. For example, Jean‑Michel Aphatie, a prominent French journalist, resigned after comparing French actions in Algeria to Nazi massacres (specifically the Oradour-sur-Glane atrocity), which sparked major controversy.
3. Broader Historical Echoes
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The colonial past continues to shape modern discourse. France’s 19th-century campaign in Algeria has been characterized by many historians as genocidal—with estimates of up to a million deaths during the “pacification” period alone .
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French leaders have begun more open admissions of wrongdoing: President Macron acknowledged that France operated a torture system during the war of independence, and called colonization a “crime against humanity”—though he avoided formal apology.
📣 Why It Matters
This story sits at the intersection of historical grievance, diaspora politics, and rising nationalist sentiment:
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Symbolic provocation: Using language like “colonize” is deeply provocative—flipping a painful colonial history into a call for reverse migration or dominance.
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Feels like political posture: Whether intended literally or rhetorically, the statement contributes to escalating tension between French and Algerian communities, both inside and outside France.
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Mirror to French memory politics: France is currently wrestling with how to integrate its colonial past into national identity. Figures like Aphatie who draw stark comparisons have ignited fierce debate over historical memory.
Implications:
The journalist’s call to “colonize France” carries implications far beyond mere rhetoric—it touches on some of the most volatile issues facing Europe today: immigration, national identity, historical memory, and cultural integration.
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Rise of Assertive Post-Colonial Identity
The statement reflects a growing trend among North African youth—especially in the diaspora—to reclaim narratives of power. Using charged language like “colonize” flips the historical script and symbolizes a shift from passive integration to active cultural assertion. -
Fuel for Far-Right Narratives in Europe
The use of the word “colonize” plays into the fears promoted by far-right political groups in Europe. These groups often warn of a “demographic threat” from Muslim-majority immigrants, and statements like this are seized upon as evidence of intent to alter or replace Western cultural norms. -
Increased Polarization Within Immigrant Communities
Not all Algerians or immigrants from former colonies agree with this confrontational tone. Older generations may see it as needlessly provocative, while younger voices may view it as empowering. This generational divide could further complicate discussions around identity, strategy, and integration. -
Strained France-Algeria Diplomatic Relations
Though unofficial, the journalist’s call adds pressure to already sensitive France-Algeria relations. Ongoing disputes about colonial reparations, historical memory, and migration policy mean that even symbolic remarks can have political ripple effects. -
Broader European Cultural Backlash
In countries beyond France, such rhetoric could intensify resistance to immigration, multiculturalism, and religious accommodation. It may trigger political responses, social unrest, or new legislation aimed at controlling migration and reinforcing “national values.”
Overall Takeaway:
The Algerian journalist’s call for youth to “colonize France” is more than a viral soundbite—it is a flashpoint in a much larger battle over history, identity, and power in a post-colonial world. While some view the statement as symbolic resistance against a legacy of oppression, others see it as a dangerous provocation that deepens cultural divides and stokes fear. Regardless of intent, the remark has exposed the raw and unresolved tensions between Europe and its former colonies, between host nations and immigrant communities, and between the past and the present.
As the demographic and ideological landscape of Europe continues to evolve, such statements—whether rhetorical or literal—will likely become more common and more controversial. They force societies to confront uncomfortable truths: that colonial wounds remain open, that integration is far from complete, and that the future of multicultural nations may be shaped as much by memory and migration as by policy and politics.
In this context, words matter deeply. And when spoken across borders, amplified online, and filtered through decades of pain and pride, they can either open dialogue—or ignite firestorms.
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