On March 24, French Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Algerian Abdelmadjid Tebboune turned the page on yet another crisis after a telephone conversation. A return to normal in diplomatic relations is underway and the Algerian head of state is expected in France in May. Timeline of a rocky relationship.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who on Friday ironed out a quarrel with Algeria over the exfiltration of a Franco-Algerian activist, like his predecessors, maintains a tumultuous diplomatic relationship with the former colony. Here is a look back at this rocky relationship.
February 2017: “Crime against humanity”
In February 2017, Emmanuel Macron, then a candidate for the presidential election, declared that the colonization of Algeria was “a crime against humanity”. “It’s part of this past that we must face up to and also apologize to those to whom we have committed these acts,” he said.
In December, having become president, he went to Algeria and promised to return the skulls of Algerian insurgents killed in the 19th century by the French army, which would be done in 2020. Algeria and France must have “very close relations more developed than today”, he says, calling on us not to remain “hostages” to the past.
January 2021: “Symbolic acts” after the Stora report
After the publication of a report by the French historian Benjamin Stora, in January 2021, Mr. Macron undertakes “symbolic acts” to try to reconcile the two countries, but this time he excludes “repentance” and “apologies “.
At the beginning of March 2021, he recognizes, “in the name of France”, that the nationalist lawyer Ali Boumendjel was “tortured and assassinated” on March 23, 1957 by the French army, contradicting the official thesis of a suicide.
In September 2021, he asked “forgiveness” to the harkis, Muslim fighters engaged with the French army then “abandoned” by France.
October 2021: Renewed tension, then appeasement
On October 2, 2021, Algiers, however, recalled its ambassador to Paris for three months, after comments by Emmanuel Macron according to which Algeria, after its independence, was built on “a memorial rent” maintained by “the politico-political system military”.
In mid-October, Mr. Macron declared that “the crimes committed on October 17, 1961 under the authority (of the Paris police chief at the time) Maurice Papon are inexcusable for the Republic”, 60 years after the massacre this that day of dozens, if not hundreds of peaceful Algerian demonstrators by the police in Paris.
Paris announced in December expanded access to archives on the Algerian war (1954-1962).
On March 19, 2022, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Evian Accords (defining the conditions for Algeria’s independence), Mr. Macron is optimistic about the “reconciliation of memories”.
August 2022: Relaunch of the partnership
He travels from August 25 to 27 to Algeria at the invitation of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and declares that the search for “the truth” and “recognition” are more important than “repentance”.
The two presidents undertake in a joint declaration “to place their relations in a dynamic of irreversible progress” and Mr. Macron welcomes “a renewed partnership”.
In October, it is French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, accompanied by about fifteen ministers, who goes to Algiers to concretize the reconciliation through agreements in the industry, the creation of start-ups, tourism and culture.
December 2022: End of the visa crisis
In December, the French Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, announced from Algeria a return to normal on the granting of visas to Algerian nationals. In the fall of 2021, Paris had restricted this issuance, to encourage Algeria to make efforts in terms of cooperation on illegal immigration. The refusal rate had reached 50%.
On December 30, Mr. Tebboune hails a new Franco-Algerian “relation of trust” and a personal “reciprocal friendship” with Mr. Macron. The following month, he announced a state visit to France for May.
February 2023: Hiccup on an “exfiltration”
On February 6, 2023, the Franco-Algerian political activist and journalist Amira Bouraoui – arrested in Tunisia and about to be deported to Algeria – obtained the protection of the French consulate in Tunis and took a flight to France.
Algiers condemns “illegal exfiltration” and recalls its ambassador to France.
Referring to his strategy in Africa at the end of February, Mr. Macron declared that he would continue to “move forward” with Algiers.
March 2023: Towards stronger cooperation
On Friday March 24, French Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune officially turned the page on the latest diplomatic crisis between their two countries, and announced the Elysée, which claims to want to continue to “strengthen cooperation” between Paris and Algiers with very close relations. tumultuous.
During a telephone interview, the two heads of state cleared up the “misunderstandings” linked to the falling out over a Franco-Algerian activist and “agreed to strengthen the communication channels (…) to prevent this type of regrettable misunderstanding is renewed,” added the French presidency in a press release.
The Algerian presidency issued a press release identical to that of the French. “President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has informed the Head of State of the return to France of the Algerian ambassador in the coming days” , according to the press release, confirming statements to this effect by Mr. Tebboune this week.
In addition, a new French ambassador to Algeria is about to be appointed, a French government source said.
