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Rabat — French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said today that France is interested in maintaining ties with Algeria, citing irregular migration and intelligence cooperation as reasons.
In his remarks to France Inter, Barrot said France’s decision to expel Algerian diplomats came to demonstrate the European country’s ability to respond to Algeria’s acts without hesitation and with firmness.
But he stressed how dialogue is important in the interest of the French people.
“I simply say that if we want results for French men and women, we will, sooner or later, need to return to a frank, clear-eyed, and demanding dialogue,” with Algeria, Barrot said.
France’s decision to expel the Algerian diplomats came in response to a similar act by Algeria’s regime, which called on 12 French officials from the Interior Ministry to leave its territory in 48 hours on Sunday.
The decision sparked further tension, with France also summoning its ambassador to Algiers for consultation.
Barrot said his country continues to see dialogue is important as the European country has an “interest in having a normal relationship with Algeria, in de-escalating tensions so that we can deport Algerians in irregular situations, have dialogue on intelligence, on the fight against terrorism, and also obtain the release of our compatriot Boualem Sansal, who is currently being arbitrarily detained in Algeria.”
Sansal’s arrest in Algeria in November last year marked another episode of tensions between the two countries.
Algeria’s regime arrested the writer, known as a critic of the Algerian regime, accusing him of undermining national unity.
An Algerian court sentenced him to five years in prison in March. The author appealed the sentence.
In January, French President Emmanuel Macron condemned Algeria for its decision to detain the renowned author, calling the writer’s arrest a “disgrace.”
“Algeria dishonors itself by preventing a gravely ill man from receiving proper care,” Macron said, expressing disappointment that such acts do not reflect the values of a nation that shares deep historical and familial ties with France.
Tensions between the two countries have been flaring as Algeria’s regime has been reluctant to receive its deported nationals.
The challenge of irregular migration is not the only factor behind tensions between the two countries.
France’s newfound position on Western Sahara also struck a nerve among Algeria’s regime, which finances, arms, hosts, and trains the Polisario Front– a separatist group challenging Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over its southern provinces.
Algeria’s regime protested France’s move by recalling its ambassador and condemning the decision.
