Nuclear Heritage in the Algerian Sahara: France’s Responsibility in the Context of Corrective Environmental Justice

Abstract

Following World War II, the Cold War era witnessed widespread nuclear weapons testing by several nuclear-capable states. These tests, conducted in various regions around the world, caused long-term environmental degradation and serious public health issues for local populations. France, as one of the recognized nuclear powers, played a significant role in this process. Between 1960 and 1966, France conducted 17 nuclear weapons tests in Algeria—4 atmospheric and 13 underground—during the colonial and immediate postcolonial periods. These tests caused radioactive fallout, environmental destruction, and a range of chronic health effects among local communities. In addition to the immediate impacts, France pursued a controversial policy of burying nuclear waste in the Algerian Sahara. Crucially, French authorities have never disclosed the precise locations of these waste disposal sites. Reports by the International Atomic Energy Agency indicate that radiation from these buried materials continues to affect the region, further exacerbating ecological risks and human exposure. The enduring consequences of these nuclear activities—including radioactive contamination, ecological degradation, and the socioeconomic vulnerability of affected populations—raise serious questions regarding historical accountability and justice. Within the framework of corrective environmental justice, this case reveals systemic violations of key environmental rights, such as access to information, community participation, and the right to a healthy environment. The lack of transparency surrounding the location of buried nuclear waste hinders effective remediation and poses ongoing risks to public health and environmental safety. This study argues that France’s nuclear legacy in Algeria should be addressed through a corrective environmental justice approach that includes recognition of harm, disclosure of buried waste locations, and long-overdue compensation or remediation efforts.