France Repeals 'Code Noir' Slavery Law After 341 Years
On May 28, 2026, France formally repealed the 'Code Noir' slavery law from 1685.
Why it matters: The repeal removes outdated colonial laws from France’s legal system and signals acknowledgment of historical injustice. Legal professionals should note its symbolic role amid ongoing reparations debates and policy reforms.
- French Parliament voted unanimously on May 28, 2026, to repeal the 'Code Noir'.
- The 'Code Noir' regulated slavery in French colonies from 1685 until slavery’s abolition in 1848.
- Though unenforced since 1848, the Code remained in law until 2026.
- Civil rights groups view the repeal as symbolic, urging reparations and formal justice policies.
On May 28, 2026, the French Parliament unanimously repealed the Code Noir, a 1685 royal decree that regulated slavery in France's colonies. It set rules on enslaved people’s status, conditions, and punishments, mainly in the French West Indies from 1724 onwards.
Although slavery was abolished across French colonies in 1848, the Code Noir stayed in the legal texts for 178 more years. Its formal repeal removes outdated colonial statutes from French law.
Yet, the repeal is largely symbolic. Senegalese-French historian Karfa Diallo said it is "a cheap way to clear one’s conscience, without actually engaging in reparative justice." Civil rights advocates stress that repealing the Code alone doesn’t address the legacies of slavery.
Political scientist Françoise Vergès noted that repeal must be "followed by reparations and a true policy of memory and repair," meaning official efforts to acknowledge and repair historical harms. French MP Wirginia Togn, sponsor of the repeal, called the Code Noir a "symbol of colonial violence" influencing France’s current ties to its former colonies.
This move echoes wider European debates on decolonization, reparations, and historical memory. While the unanimous vote marks a legal milestone, activists and scholars call for concrete policies beyond symbolic actions.
For legal practitioners and policy makers, the repeal highlights how historic colonial laws can linger unnoticed and the importance of revising legal codes to reflect contemporary values and equity.
Amnesty International France also commented on the repeal, urging the government to engage with affected communities and implement reparations frameworks, underscoring lasting legal and social implications (Amnesty International statement).
By the numbers:
- 341 years — duration from the Code Noir enactment in 1685 to its repeal in 2026
- 178 years — period the Code Noir remained in French law post-slavery abolition in 1848
- May 28, 2026 — date the French Parliament unanimously voted to repeal the Code Noir
Yes, but: The repeal is symbolic only; it does not provide reparations or direct legal remedies for slavery's legacy.
What's next: Pressure will likely grow for France to develop reparations policies and formal historical memory programs following the repeal.