A weakened power, neighbors at war, economic difficulties, a youth who dreams of elsewhere… The professor of Maghreb history at Paris I, Pierre Vermeren explains the reasons for the warming of relations between France and Algeria.
“France’s needs vis-à-vis Algeria are much more secure and strategic than related to gas”, analyzes Saturday, August 27 on franceinfo, Pierre Vermeren, professor of Maghreb history at Paris 1 University Pantheon Sorbonne. Emmanuel Macron completes his three-day trip to Algeria. The Head of State will meet sportsmen and the world of music in Oran before returning to Algiers to officially seal the relaunch of the bilateral relationship.
All the presidents have tried to set up new partnerships with Algeria. Why would it work better today?
Pierre Vermeren: All the presidents, indeed, have tried, since Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, to have these partnerships with Algeria. I believe that the difference this time is that Algeria is in demand. She is asking because the Algerian power system is weakened and the international situation is still very difficult. Algeria finds itself a partner of the Russians. It needs to export its gas, to import cereals. These are also consequences of the war. There are all the same very difficult relations with all of its neighbors who are at war, either as in Libya, or with an uncertain political regime in Tunisia, or angry with Morocco. The war is also in Mali, so all that makes the need for
France’s needs vis-à-vis Algeria are much more secure and strategic. We know that Emmanuel Macron met the high military authorities of the country, himself being the chief of the armies. Of course, this is all kept very secret.
Can all this make us forget the words of Emmanuel Macron, “the famous memory rent of the Algerian politico-military system”?
We must not forget that the Algerian ambassador returned to Paris at the beginning of 2022. There were many calls in his favor during the electoral campaign in Algeria, including from certain authorities. The page had already been turned into reality. But having said that, what is said is said. The principle of cooperation is long-term, and relations are not that bad. There are crises regularly, it’s been sixty years since the two countries have had erratic partnerships.
“Each country has experienced difficult times, perhaps this period of general crisis will be favorable to rapprochement.”
Pierre Vermeren, professor of Maghreb history at Paris I
Do young Algerians also want, in your opinion, a new relationship with France?
The problem of young Algerians is that they are locked up in Algeria with very complex economic prospects. So we know very well that the majority of them want to travel or emigrate. This agreement is important, but it cannot address the scale of the problem. The real problem facing the Algerian youth will be to have jobs and therefore to get out of the current cash economy to move towards a production economy. This is where all the main challenges in terms of exchanges can meet demand. Now circulation, it is obviously linked to visas, the number of which will be increased for students.
