Algerian president denies requesting visa quota from France

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has denied asking France for a visa quota, according to France 24 via AFP. The North African leader made these remarks in an interview that was broadcast on July 27.

This statement follows a sharp political controversy in France. The French ambassador to Algeria, Stéphane Romatet, had previously suggested that visa issuances could return to pre-crisis levels of 250,000 per year. As reported in a prior Maghrebi.org article, the leader of the far-right party Rassemblement National, Marine Le Pen, reacted by saying “The complete opening of the migration floodgates by an exhausted Macronist government is not an option for France.” Other right-wing figures, such as Bruno Retailleau, added that this would represent a ‘capitulation’ by France to Algiers.

To put that figure in context, 250,000 visas are more than the current issuance level. Recent diplomatic tensions caused a noticeable drop of roughly 20 per cent in visa grants compared to previous years. Romatet’s proposal to aim for 250,000 was intended as an upward adjustment to normalise post-crisis consular work. 

French President Emmanuel Macron later intervened to correct the record. He stated that Paris set no quantified objectives for Algerian visas and showed no laxity.

Tebboune strongly rejected the premise during his interview. He stated that he never requested a visa quota or a specific number. “Algeria will never beg,” he added.

Bilateral relations remain sensitive following the diplomatic crisis that began in 2024. That rift began when France backed Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara. While efforts to ease tensions continue, Algiers remains clear about its core demands regarding the past. Algiers wants Paris to officially admit and take full responsibility for what it perceives as the tragedies of the colonial era.

France 24 via AFP, Maghrebi.org