Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune referred to the killings as "moments of madness devoid of all civility and humanity."

Algeria is commemorating the 63rd anniversary of a tragic crackdown carried out by French police against Algerians who were rallying in Paris to demand their nation's independence from France. This brutal incident resulted in the deaths of numerous peaceful demonstrators, and the full extent of the massacre was concealed for decades by the French authorities.

In 2021, French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged the violence, labeling it as "inexcusable," yet he did not extend an official apology or offer reparations for the atrocities committed.

Ahead of the anniversary, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune expressed that this day "remains deeply engraved in our minds." He characterized the killings as "moments of madness devoid of all civility and humanity." In his message, he paid tribute to the victims, stating, "On this occasion, I bow with piety and deference to the memory of the victims of that sinister day."

The exact death toll from the events of October 17, 1961, remains uncertain. During that night and the following days, Algerian demonstrators faced brutal treatment, including beatings, killings, and being thrown into the River Seine, where many drowned. In 1998, the French government acknowledged that 40 people had died; however, historians and activists contend that the actual number of victims is likely in the hundreds due to the severe police crackdown.

These protests occurred during the final year of France's violent efforts to maintain control over Algeria as a colony in North Africa. In March 2024, the lower house of the French parliament passed a resolution condemning the events as "bloody and murderous repression." Activists continue to criticize France for its refusal to issue an official apology or show remorse for the massacre and its brutal 132-year colonial rule in Algeria, which came to an end in 1962.