France and Algeria have reopened high-level diplomatic talks in a bid to repair their deeply strained relationship, following a year of escalating tensions that have severely impacted trade, disrupted vital counterterrorism cooperation, and threatened long-standing political and cultural ties between the two nations.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot arrived in Algiers on Sunday, April 6, for a one-day working visit—marking the most significant diplomatic engagement since bilateral relations deteriorated in 2023. Barrot met with his Algerian counterpart, Ahmed Attaf, and other senior officials to discuss the restoration of cooperation on economic, security, and migration issues.
The rift stems primarily from France’s backing of Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara—a disputed territory also claimed by the Algeria-supported Polisario Front. President Emmanuel Macron’s support for Rabat’s position, announced last year, was seen in Algiers as a betrayal of long-held Algerian interests and a pivot away from neutrality in the North African dispute.
The diplomatic fallout triggered a series of retaliatory measures. According to French government sources, Algeria began phasing out French firms from state contracts and energy deals, and introduced informal barriers to French imports. As a result, bilateral trade—which stood at over €10 billion in 2022—has reportedly plummeted by more than 30% since mid-2023.
In addition to the economic rift, longstanding security cooperation, particularly in counterterrorism and intelligence-sharing related to Islamist militancy in the Sahel region, has been suspended. France and Algeria had coordinated closely for over two decades in regional efforts to contain jihadist groups operating in Mali, Niger, and southern Algeria.
Speaking to the French National Assembly last week, Barrot emphasized that “dialogue and cooperation with Algeria are in the fundamental interest of France and the French people.” He acknowledged the “historic, cultural, and human ties” that bind the two nations, pointing to the estimated six to seven million French citizens with Algerian heritage—roughly 10% of France’s population.
In Algiers, Barrot reiterated France’s readiness to “turn a new page” and expressed hope for “constructive dialogue” on shared interests, including economic recovery, migration management, youth exchange, and regional stability. Algerian officials, while measured in their statements, signaled openness to détente. Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf said the talks were “frank and direct” and that both sides had agreed to establish a joint task force to review suspended cooperation programs.
The Algeria-France relationship has long been fraught, shaped by the painful legacy of colonialism and the bloody Algerian War of Independence (1954–1962), during which over one million Algerians are believed to have died. While both sides have sought reconciliation in recent years—including through Macron’s partial acknowledgment of France’s role in colonial-era atrocities—resentment remains deep among parts of the Algerian political class and public.
France’s loss of influence in Algeria is occurring in the broader context of growing geopolitical competition in North Africa. While Algeria strengthens ties with countries like China, Russia, and Turkey, France has also seen its diplomatic and economic influence erode across the Sahel, following military coups in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
With regional instability mounting and energy dynamics shifting due to the war in Ukraine, both Algeria—one of Europe’s top natural gas suppliers—and France appear to have incentives to stabilize their relationship.
Looking Ahead
Analysts view this diplomatic thaw as tentative but crucial. “France and Algeria are too interlinked—historically, economically, and demographically—to afford a prolonged rupture,” said Hélène Brune, a political analyst at Sciences Po. “This visit may not solve everything, but it resets the stage for a broader strategic reset.”
