Rabat – After months of strained relations, French President Emmanuel Macron and his Algerian counterpart, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, agreed to reestablish political dialogue and relaunch cooperation on security and migration.
The decision came during a phone call today that signaled a shift in tone after a prolonged period of diplomatic tensions.
Both leaders confirmed plans to resume exchanges in this field, with French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin expected in Algiers soon.
Macron also urged Tebboune to show clemency toward Boualem Sansal, a French-Algerian writer sentenced to five years in prison by an Algerian court last week.
Sansal, a vocal critic of the Algerian government, also drew its ire for remarks he made in October during an interview with Frontières, a French media outlet known for its far-right stance. In that interview, he echoed Morocco’s claim that parts of its territory were ceded to Algeria during the French colonial era.
The statement from the Élysée described the request as an appeal for “humanity,” given Sansal’s age and health condition. His detention, which dates back to November, has deepened the diplomatic rift between the two countries.
As part of the effort to mend ties, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot will travel to Algiers on April 6 at the invitation of his Algerian counterpart, Ahmed Attaf.
Relations between France and Algeria remain complex, shaped by a long history of political tensions. The latest rift worsened after Macron’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces in July 2024, a move that provoked strong reactions in Algiers.
The French president reaffirmed his stance on Morocco’s autonomy plan during a landmark speech on his state visit in October, which only ignited more hostility between Paris and Algiers.
“And I think, of course, first and foremost of Western Sahara, regarding which I wished to clarify my vision on behalf of France…. I reaffirm here that for France, the present and future of this territory fall within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty,” Macron said in his address to Morocco’s Parliament.
