Jean-Noël Barrot visiting Algiers, after eight months of disaster between France and Algeria | EUROtoday

It is a query of concretizing bilateral warming after eight months of a disaster which led the 2 nations to the sting of the rupture. The chief of French diplomacy, Jean-Noël Barrot, introduced on Sunday April 6, after a go to to Algiers the place he met the president of the nation, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the desire of the 2 nations “To enter a new phase” and “Turn the page” current tensions.

“With the president [Abdelmadjid] Tebboune, we expressed the shared desire to lift the curtain ” For “Reconstruct an equal, serene and peaceable partnership”said Barrot, announcing an immediate resumption of cooperation in all areas, leaving an interview of two and a half hours with the Algerian Head of State.

Arrived in the middle of the morning, Mr. Barrot also had a “One hour and forty-five minutes”according to his services, with his counterpart, Ahmed Attaf, and in extended format, in an attempt to flatten the most thorny files. With Mr. Attaf, the exchanges were “In -depth, frank and constructive according to the change between the presidents [Emmanuel] Macron and [Abdelmadjid]Tebboune “focusing on “Regional topics and bilateral relationship together with migratory topics”said a French diplomatic source.

Since the telephone call on March 31 between French President, Emmanuel Macron, and Mr. Tebboune, who has relaunched bilateral dialogue, relations “Seem to borrow a constructive trajectory”according to the Algerian government newspaper El Moudjahid. In addition to migration questions, Paris hopes “Results” On security and economic files, said Barrot.

The crisis of unprecedented severity between Algeria and its former colonial power (1830-1962) started in the summer of 2024 when Mr. Macron provided total support to a plan of autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty for Western Sahara, claimed for fifty years by the separatists of the Polisario supported by Algiers. Algeria immediately withdrew its ambassador to Paris.

“An bold work program”

In the fall, the arrest in Algiers of the Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, for declarations considered as a “Attack on the integrity of the territory”raised the tensions of a notch, which then ignited at the beginning of 2025 when Paris claimed the expulsion of Algerian influencers, repressed by Algiers.

A highlight was reached at the end of February, the day when the French Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, raised an accusing finger against Algeria following an attack in France committed by an Algerian, whose obligation to leave the territory was refused by Algiers. But since MM. Macron and Tebboune have regained things in hand, there is, according to Paris, a joint desire to find a peaceful and balanced relationship.

Mr. Barrot’s visit aims to establish “An bold work program” And to develop an implementation calendar, according to its services. For the Algerian newspaper The expressionhis coming shows that “Relations resume their regular course, with out the necessity to declare a winner on this diplomatic quarrel” And “Demonstrates the impossibility of a break between Algeria and France”.

Algiers considers himself, in fact, victim of a cabal of“An excessive proper nostalgic for French Algeria” and right -wing leaders with their heads Bruno Retailleau, in the campaign to head the Les Républicains party. For Paris, the immediate resumption of cooperation between intelligence services in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel, where Algeria is bordering Mali and Niger, and on the return of the jihadists of Syria is a priority.

The 1994 bilateral agreement in question

Another French concern: apply “Strictly” The bilateral agreement of 1994 on the acceptance by Algeria of its expelled nationals. Paris wishes to increase the rate, despite “Part of compelled suggestions [vers l’Algérie] larger than the typical “ Other countries in 2024, according to the general management of foreigners.

For Algiers, the support of which Mr. Macron assured in his negotiations with Brussels, for a revision of his partnership with the European Union, is very important. For its part, Paris is concerned about the fate of 6,000 French companies located in Algeria. The two parties should also mention in Algiers a mutual exemption agreement for diplomatic visas, after restrictions imposed by Paris in retaliation for the refusal of Algiers to take up certain nationals.

The case of Boualem Sansal could be mentioned. Emmanuel Macron pleaded with Mr. Tebboune for “A humanitarian end result” For the writer over 80 years old, with cancer, sentenced on March 27 to five years in prison. The Algerian prosecutor’s office, which had requested ten years, appealed the conviction. According to lawyers in Algiers, a reduction in sentence and possibly presidential grace would allow his early release.