Paris has “doubts” about Algeria’s intentions towards France

The head of French diplomacy Jean-Noël Barrot issued, on Sunday January 5, “doubts” on Algiers’ desire to respect the road map of Franco-Algerian bilateral relations. In August 2022, Emmanuel Macron, visiting the Algerian capital, signed a joint declaration with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, agreeing to relax the French position on visas in the context of chosen immigration, while Algeria committed to fighting more against illegal immigration.

Also read our August 2022 editorial: Between France and Algeria, the limits of reconciliation

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“We have in 2022 (…) drafted a roadmap (…)we want to (what) can be followed »declared the Minister of Foreign Affairs during an interview for RTL, M6, Le Figaro and Public Senate. “But we observe postures, decisions on the part of the Algerian authorities which allow us to doubt the intention of the Algerians to stick to this road map. Because to keep the roadmap, it takes two”he added.

Mr. Barrot also declared himself “like the President of the Republic, very concerned by the fact that the request for release sent by Boualem Sansal and his lawyers was rejected”. Critic of Algerian power, Boualem Sansal, 80 years old, born to a father of Moroccan origin and an Algerian mother, has been incarcerated since mid-November in Algiers for endangering state security and is in a care unit since mid-December.

“Freedom of expression, freedom of opinion”

“I am concerned about his state of health and (…) France is very attached to freedom of expression, freedom of opinion and considers that the reasons which may have led the Algerian authorities to incarcerate him are not valid.noted Jean-Noël Barrot. The Algerian president mentioned for the first time, on December 29, the arrest of the writer, describing him as“impostor” sent by France.

Read also | In Algeria, President Tebboune describes writer Boualem Sansal as an “imposter” sent by France

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The author of 2084: the end of the world (Gallimard, 2015), naturalized French in 2024, is prosecuted under article 87 bis of the penal code, which punishes “as a terrorist or subversive act, any act targeting state security, territorial integrity, stability and the normal functioning of institutions”.

“We wish to maintain the best relations with Algeria (…) but this is not the case today”regretted the French minister. Algiers withdrew its ambassador to Paris at the end of July, when French President Emmanuel Macron gave strong support to Moroccan proposals concerning Western Sahara, before going to Rabat at the end of October.

Read also | Article reserved for our subscribers France reaffirms Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara but legal imbroglio remains intact

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The World with AFP (with AFP)

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