France has taken a significant symbolic step in addressing its colonial legacy after lawmakers in the country’s lower house unanimously voted to repeal centuries-old legislation that regulated slavery in French colonies.
The vote represents France’s latest attempt to confront the legacy of slavery and colonialism, an issue that remains politically sensitive both domestically and across former French territories in Africa and the Caribbean. While largely symbolic, supporters say the repeal removes a lingering legal reminder of a system that dehumanised millions of enslaved people.
The legislation passed unanimously in the National Assembly, formally annulling the notorious ‘Code Noir’, a collection of royal decrees issued during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries that established the legal framework for slavery across France’s colonial empire. The measure passed with a 254-0 vote.
Why the repeal matters
Although France abolished slavery in 1848, the decrees that once governed the institution were never officially removed from the country’s legal records.
Supporters of the repeal argue that their continued existence, even as obsolete laws, remained a troubling reminder of a system that legitimised the exploitation and dehumanisation of enslaved people.
The vote is largely symbolic, as the Code Noir has long ceased to have any legal effect. However, lawmakers backing the measure say it represents an important act of historical recognition and reinforces France’s commitment to confronting the darker chapters of its past.
The legislation must still be approved by the Senate before becoming law. A date for debate in the upper chamber has not yet been announced.
Macron backs the initiative
French President Emmanuel Macron publicly endorsed the repeal earlier this month during commemorations marking 25 years since France formally recognised slavery and the transatlantic slave trade as crimes against humanity.
Speaking at the presidential palace, Macron said the continued presence of the slavery-era decrees was incompatible with the principles upon which modern France is built.
He acknowledged that the suffering caused by slavery could never be fully repaired but argued that the nation has a responsibility to confront its history honestly and transparently.
The debate comes as France faces increasing scrutiny over its historical role in the transatlantic slave trade. Earlier this month, Macron also backed a joint research initiative with Ghana examining the legacy of slavery and possible pathways towards historical justice. Africa Briefing previously reported on the Ghana-France initiative aimed at expanding dialogue on memory, accountability and education.
Assembly president hails unanimous vote
National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet welcomed the decision, describing it as a victory for human dignity and equality.
Writing on social media platform X, Braun-Pivet said the Code Noir had effectively written ‘inhumanity into law’ and praised lawmakers for unanimously supporting its repeal.
She argued that France must continue to acknowledge and explain its history rather than ignore or erase it, particularly as the country reflects on the legacy of slavery and colonialism a quarter-century after the Taubira law recognised slavery as a crime against humanity.
Growing pressure over colonial legacy
The vote comes amid broader debates in France over how the nation should address the legacy of slavery, colonial rule and racial discrimination.
Activists, historians and some lawmakers have called for greater public education about colonial history, stronger recognition of the experiences of descendants of enslaved people and more comprehensive efforts to address inequalities linked to France’s imperial past.
The repeal also follows growing diplomatic momentum led by African states. Ghana has emerged as one of the leading voices advocating global recognition of slavery as a crime against humanity and has pushed for renewed discussions on reparatory justice at the United Nations. Read Africa Briefing’s report on Ghana’s UN reparations campaign.
Several African governments have intensified calls for greater international recognition of slavery’s enduring consequences, including discussions around reparatory justice, historical accountability and economic redress for communities affected by the transatlantic slave trade.
Symbolic but historic step
The Code Noir, first promulgated under the reign of Louis XIV in 1685, regulated the status of enslaved Africans in French colonies, defining their legal rights and restrictions while reinforcing the authority of slave owners.
Historians have long regarded it as one of the most significant legal instruments underpinning slavery within the French colonial system.
While the repeal will not alter contemporary law, supporters say it carries considerable symbolic weight as France continues to grapple with questions of historical memory, identity and accountability.
France’s move is being closely watched across Africa and the Caribbean, where governments continue to push for formal acknowledgement, restitution and economic redress linked to slavery and colonialism. South Africa has also backed calls for reparations and historical justice, reflecting a broader continental effort to revisit the consequences of colonial exploitation.
If approved by the Senate, the legislation would finally remove one of the most enduring legal remnants of France’s colonial-era slave system.
