France-Algeria: New Interior Minister wants to renew dialogue
After a year of diplomatic crisis with Algeria and political upheavals in France, the newly nominated French Interior Minister, Laurent Nuñez, expressed his intention to renew a dialogue with the North African state, reports state-friendly Algerie 360 on October 19th.
In a long interview with Radio France Inter, Nuñez emphasized the need for collaboration between both countries on security issues – such as drug trade and terrorism – while noting he hadn’t yet been in contact with his Algerian counterpart.
Nuñez is the former Prefect of police of Paris from 2022 to 2025, and is well known for overseeing the violent police response to protests against retirement reforms in 2022 and 2023.
He is replacing hardline Bruno Retailleau, who is widely accused of contributing to the decline of the relationship between the countries with inflammatory statements.
Nuñez seemed to be adopting a more conciliating attitude, also announcing he wouldn’t be challenging a controversial 1968 agreement that facilitates the travel and employment of Algerians in France.
The relationship between France and its former colony, Algeria, has been deteriorating over the past year, particularly due to France’s position on the Western Sahara and its support of the Moroccan plan.
On the other hand, France accuses Algeria of blocking the return of illegal immigrants, who thus remain in detention centres in France.
Another sensitive topic is the case of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who was arrested in Algiers last year for questioning Algeria’s postcolonial territorial boundaries.
These issues led to Algeria recalling its ambassador in July 2024, and the position has remained vacant since. France also expelled 12 Algerian diplomats to leave Paris, leading to a complete breakdown in diplomatic relations. Both sides also suspended visa-free travel, further aggravating tensions.
Nevertheless, Algeria and France maintain very close cultural and historical ties with over 600,000 Algerians living in France, and over 2 million French citizens of Algerian descent, who represent a bridge between both sides of the Mediterranean sea.
Algerie 360 via France Inter, Jeune Afrique, Maghrebi
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