Algeria and France engage in further diplomatic talks
The Foreign Minister of France, Jean-Noel Barrot, held a series of diplomatic talks in Algeria as the two nations try to resolve recent tensions.
According to Moroccan government friendly agency Atalayar on April 8th, the talks were shrouded in secrecy, casting doubts over the positive nature of relations.
Both France and Algeria recently announced an agreement to “turn the page” and reengage in diplomatic talks after months of tension.
The resumption of diplomatic relations was announced on April 1st as French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune agreed to reopen a dialogue and cooperate on issues of security and migration.
The meeting between Barrot and President Tebboune and his Algerian counterpart Ahmed Attaf lasted for around two-and-a-half hours, with the French Minister expressing a shared desire to improve bilateral relations, saying, “France and Algeria have agreed to resume cooperation in all sectors.”
Despite the positive statement, there was no detail on key specific issues such as the Western Sahara, French deportations or the arrest of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who was recently sentenced to five years in an Algerian prison.
Relations between France and Algeria began to sour when France supported Morocco’s claims for autonomy over the Western Saharan region, an area that Algeria insists has not completed the process of decolonisation and should be the right of the native Saharawi people.
Algeria responded with frustration and stalled French attempts to deport Algerian citizens they claimed to be “dangerous” or “irregular”.
As recently as March 18th, Algeria rejected around 60 planned deportations from France, an act that the North African country accused of being motivated by making “threats” and “ultimatums”.
Whilst neither party has come out to confirm the nature of the talks, it is expected that amongst the points discussed were issues of immigration, judicial co-operation and French business in Algeria – which has suffered under the atmosphere of strained relations.
The normalisation of relations will be a priority for both countries who will now hope to be able to lay down a new, bilateral framework for future relations.
Atalayar, Maghrebi
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