Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has stated that French President Emmanuel Macron is the “sole point of reference” for repairing the strained relationship with Algeria’s former colonial power. Tensions between Paris and Algiers have escalated over immigration issues and following Macron’s acknowledgment of Moroccan sovereignty over the contested Western Sahara region in July 2024.
In an interview aired on Algerian television late Saturday night, March 22, Tebboune remarked, “We will maintain President Macron as our only point of reference. He is the French president, and all issues must be addressed with him or through his appointed representative.”
The Algerian president expressed “complete confidence” in his foreign minister, Ahmed Attaf, whose ministry has characterized Algiers as a target of a “vengeful and hateful French far right.”
Relations further deteriorated when Algeria declined to accept the return of undocumented Algerian migrants from France. This situation intensified after a 37-year-old man, one of those migrants, went on a stabbing spree in Mulhouse in February, resulting in one death and several injuries.
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French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, known for his hardline stance, has threatened repercussions if Algeria continues to deny entry to its expelled citizens. He has been vocal in the media against Algeria, exacerbating the existing tensions.
Additionally, relations soured following the arrest of Franco-Algerian author Boualem Sansal in November. Macron expressed concerns regarding Sansal’s health while he is detained in Algeria on national security charges, describing the situation as “arbitrary detention.” He suggested that resolving this issue could help rebuild trust in diplomatic relations.
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