France Moves to Repeal 1685 Slavery Code as Macron Defines Reparations
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The French National Assembly is examining a bill to formally repeal the 17th-century Code Noir, a royal edict that governed slavery in French colonies. The move coincides with President Emmanuel Macron framing reparations as truth-telling and education rather than financial payments. A statue honoring the abolition of slavery was recently unveiled in a Paris park.
Facts First
- A bill to repeal the 1685 Code Noir is under examination by the French National Assembly.
- President Emmanuel Macron has defined reparations as truth-telling and education, not specific funds.
- France conducted the third-largest slave trade, transporting approximately 1.4 million Africans.
- The Code Noir classified enslaved people as 'movable property' and ordered mutilation for those who fled.
- Overseas French departments, home to many descendants of enslaved people, face unemployment double that of mainland France.
What Happened
Lawmaker Max Mathiasin from Guadeloupe has proposed a bill for the French National Assembly to formally repeal the Code Noir (Black Code). This 17th-century royal edict, signed by King Louis XIV in 1685, governed slavery in French colonies, classifying enslaved people as "movable property" and ordering mutilation for those who fled. The Code Noir lost all legal authority in 1848 when France abolished slavery. Separately, on May 21, 2026, President Emmanuel Macron discussed the idea of reparations, defining repair as truth-telling, education, and historical work rather than committing specific funds. A statue titled 'Chains' by French artist Driss Sans-Arcidet, honoring the memory of the abolition of slavery, was photographed in a Paris park.
Why this Matters to You
This legislative action and the president's statements represent a formal, national-level engagement with France's colonial history, which may lead to a more comprehensive public education on the subject. For the approximately 1.9 million French citizens living in overseas departments like Guadeloupe and Martinique—many of whom are descendants of enslaved people—this recognition could feel significant, especially as they face economic challenges like unemployment rates roughly double those of mainland France. The debate over reparations may influence how history is taught in French schools and could shape future policy discussions about addressing historical injustices.
What's Next
The bill to repeal the Code Noir will continue through the legislative process in the National Assembly. The Foundation for the Memory of Slavery, chaired by former prime minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, is likely to play a role in the ongoing historical work referenced by President Macron. France's recent abstention from a U.N. General Assembly vote that called the trans-Atlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity suggests its official position on international recognition of these crimes may continue to evolve.