Algeria did not (at all) appreciated the hardening of Macron’s position

LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP

Algeria, here represented by its president Abdelmadjid Tebboune, criticizes France for fleeing its “responsibilities”.

POLITICS – How far will tensions between France and Algeria go? The two countries, which have a common history and which maintain important economic ties, never stop competing by diplomatic means. In a letter sent on August 6, Emmanuel Macron pleaded for the suspension of the 2013 agreement and called for “More firmness” With regard to Algiers. In question: the maintenance of two French nationals, Boualem Sansal and Christophe Gleizes, as well as “Inflexibility” Supposed to Algeria on the migratory issue.

A change of gear very badly received on the other side of the Mediterranean. This Thursday, August 7, the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticizes France for fleeing “His responsibilities” In the showdown that has animated the two countries for a year. To hear it, Emmanuel Macron “Do all wrongs to the Algerian part”. “Nothing is further from truth and reality”he says.

Regarding the 2013 agreement, which mainly aims at diplomatic passing holders, therefore a tiny part of those who travel between the two countries, Algeria recalls that “It is France, and it alone, which was the source of such a request. By deciding the suspension of this agreement, France offers Algeria the appropriate opportunity to announce, on the other hand, the pure and simple denunciation of this same agreement ”. If this cooperation on visas were to be buried, it is to be feared that the next step would be the outright questioning of another partnership: the 1968 agreement.

This one is much more decisive. First of all because it concerns more people, but also because it governs the traffic, stay and employment of Algerian nationals in France. Clearly, Algerians today benefit from facilitated conditions to obtain a residence permit, access certain jobs or join a loved one in France. This agreement had been signed a few years after Algerian independence, obtained after a long period of fierce colonization and bloody war.

“Ultimatums” launched by France?

In addition, Algiers accuses Paris of not having “Process only by injunctions, ultimatums and summons” Since the summer of 2024. The crisis had broken out just after the recognition by France in Western Sahara as being “Under Moroccan sovereignty”. Which had displeased the Algerian neighbor.

In any case, the replica of Algiers has reacted to the highest peak of the state, since Prime Minister François Bayrou, who does not take a vacation during this summer period, said this August 7 that he was not standing “In the minds of a perpetual confrontation” with Algeria. On the contrary, estimates the centrist, it will be necessary “One day find relationships that are balanced and just”. The day before, Emmanuel Macron was also trying not to appear as too affirmative, ensuring that his ” objective “ remained of “Find effective and ambitious relationships with Algeria”. We are for the moment far away.

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