France tests an atomic bomb in Algeria

Date: 13 Feb 1960
Updated: 13 Feb 2020

Officials overseeing the atomic bomb test, source: AFP/GETTY IMAGES

France conducted its first nuclear bomb test at Reganne, Algeria, in the Sahara desert. At the time, Algeria was under French control. The test, code named Gerboise Bleue, had a yield of 60-70 kilotons. This test put France in the same atomic league with the United States, the USSR and Great Britain. The test would be the first of many by France. Despite protests from the international community and several African states, France continued its nuclear tests for years.

In the 1990’s France was still conducting nuclear tests in the Pacific Ocean despite disapproval from many countries. France always claimed that it took great care in ensuring that radioactive energy from the bombs did not affect people living in remote parts of the areas where the tests were taking place.

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How we know this

01BBC, 1960: France explodes third atomic bomb, from British Broadcasting, [online], Available at news.bbc.co.uk [Accessed: 31 January 2013]
02Nuclear Weapon Archive, France's Nuclear Weapons Origin of the Force de Frappe, from Nuclear Weapon Archive, [online], Available at nuclearweaponarchive.org [Accessed: 31 January 2013]

Last updated · 13 Feb 2020

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2013, February 7). France tests an atomic bomb in Algeria . South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/af/ref/E-0094821

South African History Online (2013) 'France tests an atomic bomb in Algeria ', South African History Online, 7 February. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/af/ref/E-0094821 (Accessed: 23 July 2026).

South African History Online, France tests an atomic bomb in Algeria [website], https://sahistory.org.za/af/ref/E-0094821, (accessed 23 July 2026).

"France tests an atomic bomb in Algeria ." South African History Online, 7 Feb. 2013, https://sahistory.org.za/af/ref/E-0094821. Accessed 23 July 2026.

South African History Online. "France tests an atomic bomb in Algeria ." South African History Online. February 7, 2013. https://sahistory.org.za/af/ref/E-0094821.