Algerian Radio
Growing concerns persist in the southern region of Reggane over the toxic nuclear waste buried in its desert for the past 66 years.
These concerns stem from the nuclear tests conducted by France, which severely disrupted the balance of human life, the environment, and wildlife.
Experts affirm that nuclear radiation, which continues to claim victims, has left behind generations affected by deformities and will remain a threat for more than 24,000 years to come.
Today, visitors to the areas of Reggane and its surrounding municipalities can still observe the dangers posed by radiation resulting from nuclear waste.
A total of 42,000 Algerians lost their lives in seventeen French nuclear tests beginning on February 13, 1960, while thousands more suffered radiation exposure and extensive damage affecting both the population and the environment.
According to Mr. Amar Mansouri, a nuclear engineering researcher, the French military code-named these explosions “Gerboise Bleue,” “Gerboise Rouge,” “Gerboise Blanche,” and “Gerboise Noire.”
French authorities used thousands of Algerians and members of the Foreign Legion as human test subjects, in addition to animals, insects, birds, and various plant seeds.
Victims were reportedly restrained for hours prior to each detonation, and the tests caused widespread destruction affecting all forms of life.
The explosions had particularly devastating consequences for southern populations, leaving thousands dead and injured, while many families continue to live in radiation-contaminated environments.
Mr. Amar Mansouri noted that the nuclear yield reached approximately 30 kilotons. Despite the passage of decades since the tests, the surrounding area remains highly radioactive, prompting authorities to restrict access.
Notably, the areas affected by radiation were vast, exceeding initial expectations and producing overlapping and long-lasting contamination, particularly due to plutonium, one of the most toxic and persistent radioactive substances.
Radiation exposure has also been linked to the spread of eye diseases, declining birth rates, and the sterility of trees, with effects expected to continue impacting future generations.
For his part, Mr. Christophe Jannot, a former French soldier, described the tests as nuclear disasters by every standard. He stated that their explosive force exceeded four times the combined impact of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs during World War II.
According to Mr. Christophe Jannot, the total yield of eight tests alone reached 234 kilotons, conducted during periods of sandstorms in the desert.
He acknowledged that the French military conducted nuclear experiments not only on animals and plant life but also on 150 prisoners, including pregnant women, children, and elderly individuals.
Specialized equipment was used to assess the impact of explosions and radiation on living organisms, vegetation, and water resources, despite international opposition to such tests due to their dangers and the rapid global spread of radioactive fallout.
Radioactive clouds extended beyond Algeria’s borders, reaching countries such as Libya, Spain, and Portugal.
Mr. Nacer Ghmima and Mr. Houssam Nyoua, both natives of the Reggane region, emphasized that nuclear contamination profoundly altered areas once known for their tranquility and natural beauty.
They stressed that the explosions devastated vegetation cover, wildlife, and fragile ecological cycles, transforming Reggane into a hazardous zone littered with radioactive debris, vitrified sand, and contaminated terrain.
As a result, the area has been fenced off and access restricted, as the risks remain present for humans, animals, and the environment alike.
Field research indicates that those responsible for the tests failed to adequately consider critical environmental factors, including climatic conditions and seasonal sandstorm patterns.
According to experts Bruno Barillot and Gaston Morizot, these oversights led to devastating consequences, still evident today at Mount Taourirt and its surrounding areas.
Former French Minister of Defense, Mr. Hervé Morin, previously acknowledged that the controversial tests caused radioactive repercussions.
Specialists in nuclear radiation emphasize that the catastrophic effects of these tests were not limited to the period during which they occurred in Reggane and Tamanrasset, but will continue to pose serious threats for up to 24,400 years, particularly in the absence of comprehensive epidemiological studies to fully assess the extent of contamination.
