France keep the Algerian oranais

I read a stat that said 90% of the population of Oran was of European descent at the time of independance. I don't know about the whole region but I would say the Oranais was still predominently European, compared to a region wide average of about 15% (1 million Europeans vs a total pop upward of 7M).

As such, it seems possible that the French would have kept the region as a French department while letting the rest go.

Would that have been possible? Was it discussed? What would have been the consequences?

I would see a less diverse mainland France as a result, both because of the arabs but also because of the North African jewish population. It probably wouldn't have been such a blow to French ego.

Any thoughts?
 
In 1954, there were 178,011 non-Muslims in the city of Oran and 120,997 Muslims. So Muslims were already 40% of the population, not 10%. In 1921 there were 118,153 Non-Muslims and 20,059 Muslims in the city, making them 85% of the population. Between 1921 and 1954, the non-Muslim population grew at a rate of 1.25% per year, while Muslims grew at an impressive 5.5% per year.

The department of Oran was 6,350 square miles and had 685,000 Muslims in 1960 vs 307,000 non-Muslims, or 31% of the population.
 
My bad then, my own fault for using bad sources!

Still, since it was the most European part of Algeria, could we see some kind of partition, as in India with population movements?
 
My bad then, my own fault for using bad sources!

Still, since it was the most European part of Algeria, could we see some kind of partition, as in India with population movements?

Not really no, The Algerians won't allow it. They don't want a Ceuta/Melilla situation in their hands.

Also by the time Oran is kept by France, the population would've become majority Muslim after less than a decade. Then they would be ceded to Algeria anyways.
 
Not really no, The Algerians won't allow it. They don't want a Ceuta/Melilla situation in their hands.

Also by the time Oran is kept by France, the population would've become majority Muslim after less than a decade. Then they would be ceded to Algeria anyways.

That makes no sense.

If there is a partition and part of Algeria stayed French, then all of the Europeans living in Algeria would be amalgamated into that one area that France kept, increasing its population by a lot. Plus, if the French kick out local Muslims to make space for the European migrants then the ratio gets even more pronounced.

Once this happens, the Algerians can't take over this territory without some kind of military invasion since it wouldn't be majority Muslim anymore, and thus wouldn't join Algeria of their own free will.

That is, unless there is some new development that makes converting to Islam suddenly very popular among French people :p
 
Top