France's nuclear tests in Algeria: A colonial legacy that still radiates 60 years later

In 1960, France conducted its first nuclear tests in Algeria, choosing the country for its experiments as it sought to bolster its nuclear ambitions. Located in the heart of the Algerian Sahara, the Blue Jerboa test, a 70-kiloton plutonium bomb, exploded on February 13th, releasing radioactive fallout that covered an area 200km wide and 100km long. The blast killed both people and wildlife, causing widespread devastation.

Mokhtar Benabdelkader, a 30-year-old engineer living in Adrar, recalls stories from his grandfather, Mohamed, about the blue-colored rodent-named bomb. Mohamed, who died in 1992, described a blinding light followed by a muffled sound that shook the earth. After the explosion, Mohamed and his family moved to Adrar, hoping to escape the danger, but the threat remained.

Algeria has since undertaken decontamination efforts at the test sites, but France has withheld maps of the locations and refused to help with the clean-up. This refusal stems from a desire to conceal the long-term health and environmental impacts of the tests, which France continues to classify as "secret defence" information.

Algerian historian Samia Henni argues that the French nuclear tests in Algeria were part of a colonialist project, erasing the violence and toxicity of the tests from the region. The tests have left a lasting legacy, with the population of the Reggane region halving from 40,000 to 20,000 inhabitants. Despite these challenges, France maintains secrecy around its nuclear tests, citing the need to protect sensitive military information.