The question of Swiss involvement in the Algerian cause must be linked to the presence of Swiss citizens since the end of the first part of the 19th century. A participation in the French colony taking the form of a Swiss presence in Algiers or on a territory of 20,000 hectares near Sétif in the Constantinois, a territory exploited by the "Compagnie genevoise des Colonies suisses de Sétif" created by François-Auguste Sautter de Beauregard in 1853, a man who came in search of wealth by involving several co-concessionaires of the "colony" among whom was the founder of the Red Cross Henry Dunant.

The Swiss history in Algeria will continue until 1962. That is to say a little more than 130 years of presence at the side of colonial France. It was the French who attracted these Swiss to Algeria. Switzerland wanted to participate in this French colony. It wanted to export something. Paradox of history "if Switzerland was not a colonial power, it had to suffer the consequences comparable to other European colonial powers" adds Marisa Fois. "In 1967, an association linked to colonization was born, the Association of Swiss spoliated from Algeria and overseas.

A paradox of history, it was born in Geneva, city of international cooperation, neutrality and headquarters of international organizations. This return to the country of ex-Swiss colonists will go badly, the financial compensation for this forced repatriation will be paid to the plaintiffs being almost non-existent.

Photo of Henri Guisan in 1951 at the Swiss colony of Sétif, Constantinois, Algeria (Swiss Federal Archives)