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Rabat – The Algerian government has lashed out at France after Emannuel Macron’s recent statements criticizing Algeria’s regime.
According to Le Monde, Macron’s latest remarks about France’s colonial presence in Algeria did not sit well with the North African country’s authorities.
In remarks that have been dubbed “critical” by Algerian and French media, Macron said that Algeria was ruled by a “political-military system” and an “official history” that was not based on truths but rather on a “discourse of hatred towards France.”
Arguing that Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune was trapped in a “very tough” system, Macron described Algeria’s system as tired and weakened by the hirak popular movement.
Algeria responded to the remarks by summoning its ambassador from France for consultations.
In a statement, the Algerian presidency expressed surprise that the French government had not denied remarks attributed to Macron by the media.
“Following remarks that have not been denied, which several French sources have attributed by name to (Macron), Algeria expresses its categorical rejection of the inadmissible interference in its internal affairs,” the statement said.
Beyond this official response, many Algerian officials have individually expressed anger at what they described as uncalled-for and inaccurate criticism aimed at launching a new war against Algeria.
Macron’s remarks came following France’s decision to reduce the number of visas granted to Moroccans, Algerians, and Tunisians.
Earlier this week, France decided to cut by 50% the number of visas its consular services annually grant to Moroccans and Algerians. Meanwhile, the French government announced a similar decision to reduce visas granted to Tunisians by 33%.
Paris cited alleged “refusal” by the three countries to repatriate their citizens living in France as irregular migrants.
Morocco denied the French reference to Rabat’s refusal to cooperate, describing it as a pretext for France to go ahead with its “unjustified” decision to halve the number of visas to Moroccans.
On Tuesday, September 28, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita said the decision was “unjustified” because “Morocco has always dealt with the issue of migration and the movement of individuals with great responsibility and balance.”
Bourita pointed out that Morocco is very serious about handling irregular migration, emphasizing that Moroccan consular services in France provided in the past year over 400 transit passes to Moroccan citizens with no legal status to facilitate their return to Morocco.
Algeria also summoned the French ambassador in Algiers “for consultations” on Paris’ decision to halve the number of visas annually issued to Algerian travelers.
