The Decline of France's Influence in Africa: Algiers Accuses Paris of Worsening Bilateral Crisis
Algeria accused France on Thursday of being responsible for the sharp deterioration of bilateral relations, with Macron making strong statements regarding Algeria. On the 7th, Algeria retaliated against France, stating that Algeria has decided to terminate the free lease provided to the French embassy.
On the 6th, French President Macron wrote a letter to the Prime Minister requesting the formal suspension of Algeria's visa-free status. The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Macron of attributing this unprecedented serious conflict "entirely to Algeria".
Algeria stated that this letter "exonerates all responsibility of France", while Algiers believes that "it is far from the facts and reality".
Since France recognized the autonomy plan of Western Sahara "under Moroccan sovereignty" at the end of July 2024, relations between Paris and Algiers have been at a low point. Western Sahara is a territorial dispute area that has lasted for 50 years between Morocco and the Polisario Front, which is supported by Algeria. This crisis has led to the expulsion of diplomats and officials from both sides, and all official cooperation has been frozen.
Khalid Drareni, a journalist and North Africa representative of the non-governmental organization "Reporters Without Borders" (RSF), stated in a message on X that "the official excuses - lack of migration cooperation, expelling diplomats - are not convincing. These are just excuses. The real reason is that the president did not pardon the French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal."
Khalid Drareni believes that Mr. Macron has "made up his mind" and "has taken the side of the Interior Minister on the issue of Algeria, trampling on the hope of peace between Algiers and Paris."
In his letter to the Prime Minister Béru, Macron specifically mentioned the fate of the French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who has been detained by the Algerian judicial system for nine months, and the French journalist Christophe Gleyzes, who has been imprisoned for seven years.
Despite taking a hard stance, the French President stated in the letter that his goal is "to restore an effective and ambitious relationship with Algeria." On Thursday, François Béru added that France "has no intention of long-term confrontation with Algiers" and hopes "to restore a balanced and fair relationship one day."
However, according to Hassen Abidi, director of the Center for Research on the Arab and Mediterranean Worlds, Macron's letter "marks the failure of both countries in dealing with this costly crisis. It is entirely a combination of pressure policies, whose limitations have already become apparent," said Abidi.
In Abidi's view, the decision of the French President will "strengthen the option of completely cutting off relations with Algiers."
Sources: rfi
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1839846837507082/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.