Algeria: Tebboune reminds Macron of his plans to visit Paris
When the Algerian president called Emanuel Macron to present his wishes for the new year 2024, he had an idea in mind. To relaunch the plans for his visit to France, as the communiqué of the Presidency of the Republic of Algeria underlines. A visit that the Elysée seems to have shelved definitively after the cyclical crises provoked by Algiers and, above all, the last-minute cancellation of the visit scheduled for 2 May.
Tebboune really needs to meet with Macron a few months before the end of his mandate at the El-Mouradia palace. At a time when Algeria is struggling with its recent isolation on the diplomatic scene, it is vital for the Tebboune-Chengriha regime to open a window to Paris to reposition itself on the international stage. Tebboune wants to show Algerian policy-makers that he enjoys the sympathy of the Elysée's occupant and that he is the only one capable of reviving Algerian-French relations, which are marked by a coldness that does little to help Algiers.
Tebboune intends to set himself up as the most listened-to Algerian interlocutor in Paris. At least, that's what he thinks. In these times of economic crisis, Algeria's leaders need a lifeline at a time when everything is at a standstill with France. Even the bridges between the two countries' secret services have been cut. "The Algerians have pulled on the rope so much, they've broken it," suggests a former resident of the swimming pool (headquarters of the French Foreign Security Directorate). And a seasoned observer of Franco-Algerian relations adds: 'Macron bravely resisted the opponents of his Algerian policy, but when he got nothing from Algiers, he finally gave up. Paris addressed Rabat directly and clearly expressed its position in favour of Moroccan theses on the 'Western Sahara question', confirming its full support for the autonomy plan proposed by the Alaouite kingdom. To the chagrin of Algiers.
Not even the appointment last July of Stéphane Romatet as French ambassador to Algeria managed to warm relations between the two countries. Tebboune has received him twice at the presidential palace since his installation in Algiers. But he did not see anything coming to relaunch the project of his visit to Paris. This time, the French seem determined not to offer any gifts to the Algerians. They have the upper hand and are determined to take advantage of it.
