Algeria and Algerians in France are at the heart of the electoral campaign. Several political parties and European candidates are trying to involve Algeria in this company to bribe the far-right electorate.
This time, it is Sarah Knafo, a candidate on the Reconquest list led by Marion Maréchal, who has just spoken about Algeria. Eric Zemmour’s partner claimed in a tweet shared on his account that France grants annual aid of 800 million euros to Algeria. “ How can we give 800 million euros in development aid to Algeria each year, when it refuses to take back its illegal immigrants who are sometimes bombs on their feet? » she asked herself.
How can we give 800 million euros in development aid to Algeria each year, when it refuses to take back its illegal immigrants who are sometimes bombs on their feet? — Sarah Knafo
This publication, relayed by several political figures and activists, sparked strong reactions and questions. But what does reality reveal? Does France pay such a sum to Algeria? To sort out fact from fiction, relying on verified data and official sources is essential. By closely examining the figures and analyzing the different aspects of public development assistance (ODA), the French channel TF1 info provided a clear and nuanced answer to this question.
First of all, it is necessary to define precisely what public development assistance is. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), ODA encompasses financial flows provided by developed countries to developing countries, intending to promote their economic growth and improve the living conditions of their populations. This aid aims to achieve specific objectives such as reducing poverty, access to quality education, stimulating economic growth, and combating inequalities, in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations at the 2030 horizon.
How much public development aid does France pay to Algeria?
The claim of 800 million euros in annual aid appears to come from an erroneous interpretation of OECD data. Indeed, an article in Challenges magazine published in April 2024 indicated that Algeria had received 842 million euros in ODA from France between 2017 and 2022. It is therefore important to emphasize that this amount represents a sum accumulated over six years and not annual assistance. Using this figure without specifying the context is therefore misleading and fuels disinformation.
To obtain a more precise vision of French aid to Algeria, it is necessary to consult the official reports from the OECD and the French authorities. The OECD’s 2024 ODA report reveals that France devoted $ 15.34 billion to official development assistance in 2022, in all countries combined. Of this overall envelope, Algeria received 129.6 million euros, an amount far from the 800 million euros put forward by Sarah Knafo.
The French Ministry of the Economy corroborates this data. According to its figures, the aid paid to Algeria by France amounted to 112 million euros in 2021 and 132 million euros in 2022. This information, accessible on the public portal dedicated to French ODA, confirms a clear difference with the assertions circulating on social networks.
