The crisis between France and Algeria remains deadlocked, despite the visit of the French Director of Foreign Intelligence to Algiers

The crisis between France and Algeria continues to stall, awaiting new developments that could lean towards escalation or de-escalation. In this context, a high-level meeting between President Emmanuel Macron and senior officials is planned, at which possible measures to be taken in this regard will be discussed and announced. Meanwhile, the recent visit of the director of French foreign intelligence to Algeria did not produce concrete results. The trip seems to have remained a simple exchange of positions, without significant progress. 

According to Le Figaro, the visit of the Director of Foreign Security, Nicolas Merler, to Algeria comes at a time when ‘security cooperation between the two countries has been interrupted since last summer’. ‘This gesture reflects Algeria's desire to keep the channels of dialogue open, despite recent tensions and mutual accusations of espionage,’ it adds.  

All eyes are on the outcome of the upcoming meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and senior officials at the Elysee, where they will discuss the crisis between Paris and Algiers and seek to formulate an ‘appropriate response’. This meeting could shape the measures announced by French ministers, which include the possibility of reviewing the accreditation of Algerian consulates in France, suspending the elite visa agreement signed in 2013 and freezing financial aid to Algeria. 

The two countries are experiencing unprecedented tension. In addition to the heated debate in political and media circles, official anger intensified in Paris after Algeria refused to receive activist Boualem Nomane, deported from France for promoting violence, terrorism and hate speech. 

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau accused Algeria of trying to ‘humiliate France’, warning that the European country ‘will have no choice but to retaliate’ if ‘Algeria continues to adopt this increasingly defiant stance’. 

Algeria maintains 20 consulates on French soil, a number that reflects the size of its community in France, estimated at around a tenth of the total population, according to official French figures. This figure includes both ordinary immigrants and those with dual nationality. In contrast, France has only three consulates in Algeria. 

The French authorities leaked a list of Algerian citizens benefiting from diplomatic visas destined for France or the Schengen area, revealing that numerous non-diplomats and senior foreign ministry or government officials had obtained such visas.

This has suggested that the elite visa programme may have been used for fines unrelated to diplomatic and governmental purposes. In addition, there has been speculation that this situation may be used as a tool of pressure, as Justice Minister Gerard Darmanin has implied.

For its part, Algeria has summoned the French ambassador, Stéphane Romatet, to express its official protest and its latest warning about the alleged involvement of French security agents in a plot to destabilise the country.