Rabat – French police assaulted an Algerian activist on Sunday, September 25, during a Hirak protest of the Algerian community in Paris’ Place de la Republique, sparking controversy among social media users.
The movement was launched in protest of the existing Algerian regime and as an expression of solidarity with political detainees in Algeria.
A video capturing the attack on the Algerian protester at the hands of French police forces was spread widely on social media by activists of the popular movement against the regime.
The protestors blamed the Algerian authorities for the violent attack, describing them as tyrants loyal to France and working for it.
The movement came a day after Matignon announced on Saturday that French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne will visit Algeria on October 9 and 10.
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“In line with the Algiers Joint Declaration for a renewed partnership between Algeria and France, members of the French and Algerian governments will meet to reaffirm their determination to promote friendship between France and Algeria and deepen bilateral cooperation in areas of common interest,” Matignon reported.
This joint declaration was adopted during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron in late August.
According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), a global news agency, the French spokesman Olivier Veran announced — a day after the visit of Emmanuel Macron to Algeria — that the two countries agreed to increase deliveries of Algerian gas to France “soon.”
In the midst of the energy crisis fueled by the war in Ukraine, Veran was pleased that Algiers will help “to diversify” gas supplies to Europe, the AFP noted.
