France and Algeria try to re-establish their relationship in the midst of muted tensions
The recent visit of the French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, to Algeria has been characterised by a secrecy that contrasts with the optimistic rhetoric of the official statements. Although both parties announced an agreement to ‘turn the page’ on a diplomatic crisis that had lasted more than eight months and to resume ‘comprehensive cooperation’, there are not many details about this official visit. This ambiguity seems to be part of a deliberate strategy to protect the progress made from the influences of extremist rhetoric in both countries, or perhaps to disguise the lack of significant agreements on key issues.
After a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and his Algerian counterpart, Ahmed Attaf, Barrot expressed the shared desire to open a new chapter in bilateral relations. ‘France and Algeria have agreed to resume cooperation in all sectors,’ declared the head of French diplomacy, emphasising that ‘the curtain has been lifted’ on the resumption of dialogue after months of disagreement. However, he avoided providing specific details on the decisions taken, fuelling speculation about the true results of the visit.
The silence on sensitive issues, such as the case of the Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal - sentenced to five years in prison in Algeria - or the list of Algerian immigrants not wanted in France whose repatriation is being negotiated, reinforces the perception that the disagreements continue. Nor were issues related to cooperation in intelligence, security and justice, which are fundamental to the bilateral relationship, publicly addressed.
For his part, a French diplomatic source quoted by Al-Arab said that the talks between Barrot and Attaf were ‘deep, frank and constructive’, and focused on both bilateral issues and the regional situation. Among the points discussed were immigration, judicial co-operation and the activity of French companies in Algeria, especially in the agricultural sector, which was severely affected by an undeclared trade embargo imposed by Algiers during the crisis.
Tension between Paris and Algiers intensified last summer when France expressed its support for the Moroccan approach to Western Sahara, to the detriment of the Polisario Front, historically supported by Algeria. Subsequently, the arrest of Boualem Sansal in November and France's refusal to extradite former Algerian Industry Minister Abdeslam Bouchouareb, wanted on corruption charges, widened the gap between the two countries.
In this context, Barrot has declared before the French Parliament that normalisation with Algeria must be carried out ‘firmly and without concessions’. From this perspective, his visit to Algiers could be interpreted as an attempt to lay the foundations for a new bilateral framework based on an ambitious programme, with common objectives, clear operational mechanisms and a defined timetable for its implementation.
In the meantime, there has been some progress, such as the reactivation of the joint commission responsible for issues of shared memory, which will meet soon in Paris. Lahcen Zeghidi, head of the Algerian delegation, confirmed his trip to the French capital to compile national archives, which indicates a practical move towards rebuilding trust.
In parallel, the French Ministry of the Interior has resumed contact with Algerian consulates to speed up the process of drawing up lists of immigrants awaiting repatriation, pressing for Algeria to issue more consular passports within a reasonable time.
Despite the gestures of goodwill, observers are not unaware of the body language of the delegations, noting the tense expressions, the prolonged silences and the carefully measured statements that reflect the fragility of a relationship marked by mutual distrust. Political analysts agree that Barrot's visit was not only a matter of protocol, but also strategic, aimed at salvaging a historical bond that is indispensable for both countries but also full of challenges