Algeria–France: Toward a Diplomatic Thaw? Negotiations Resume, but Red Lines Remain

After months of unprecedented tension between Algiers and Paris, high-level talks have resumed between the two capitals.

Three days after a phone call between Presidents Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Emmanuel Macron, the foreign ministers of both countries, Jean-Noël Barrot and Ahmed Attaf, held discussions on April 3. This diplomatic sequence paves the way for a new phase of active negotiations, which could lead to a thaw in relations—provided that the major points of contention are addressed with due seriousness.

A Revived Dialogue, Still Far from Normalization

The March 31 conversation between Tebboune and Macron signaled a shared political will to renew dialogue after an eight-month diplomatic freeze triggered by disputes over historical memory, migration, and remarks deemed unacceptable by Algiers. That presidential call led to the drafting of a ten-point bilateral roadmap, intended to guide the relaunch of cooperation in sensitive areas such as security, migration, justice, economics, and historical reconciliation.

Yet, while the form was carefully orchestrated, the substance remains complex. The two nations are embarking on a diplomatic process with an uncertain outcome. Deep-rooted disagreements—particularly over Western Sahara and migration cooperation—may prove difficult to overcome swiftly.

Jean-Noël Barrot’s Visit to Algiers: Mere Symbolism or True Turning Point?

Jean-Noël Barrot, France’s new foreign minister, is due to visit Algiers on April 6 at the invitation of his Algerian counterpart. The visit comes at a strategic moment and is intended, according to the Quai d'Orsay, to "embody the resumption of dialogue" and lay the foundations for a renewed partnership.

Among the priorities on the agenda: resuming security cooperation, negotiating a new and balanced migration agreement, continuing work on historical reconciliation through the joint historians’ commission, and discussions on judicial and economic collaboration.

However, from the Algerian perspective, this visit is seen less as a new beginning than as a test of sincerity. Algiers expects clear, concrete commitments—far removed from lofty statements of intent.

The Boualem Sansal Case: A Flashpoint Within Broader Negotiations

Looming in the background is the case of Boualem Sansal, a 75-year-old French-Algerian writer recently sentenced to five years in prison for “undermining national unity.” President Macron has personally asked his Algerian counterpart for an act of “clemency and humanity.” However, at this stage, there is no indication that Algiers is willing to consider such a gesture without meaningful concessions.

According to several observers, Algeria could leverage the Sansal case within a broader negotiation framework, especially to press France for tangible action in judicial and financial cooperation. Two key priorities stand out:

• The extradition of wanted figures such as Abdeslam Bouchouareb, a former Industry Minister under Bouteflika, convicted in absentia for corruption and currently in exile abroad.

• The repatriation of assets and ill-gotten wealth held by former Algerian officials in France. Some estimates place these assets at over $20 billion.

In this context, Algiers may only contemplate leniency toward Sansal within a reciprocal framework, reflecting a pragmatic, give-and-take diplomatic strategy. 

Irreconcilable Strategic Interests? The Western Sahara as a Major Obstacle

Despite the resumption of bilateral talks, certain sensitive issues continue to threaten substantial progress, foremost among them the question of Western Sahara. For Algiers, this is a matter of national sovereignty and internal security—beyond compromise. Algeria expects France to adopt a stance aligned with international law, grounded in respect for the founding principles of legality.

Any suggestion—however implicit—that Paris might recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara would be seen by Algiers as a direct threat to its national security. From the Algerian authorities’ perspective, such recognition would merely reinforce Rabat’s expansionist logic and could ultimately encourage claims over Algerian territory itself.

This is a red line. Algeria will not trade its unwavering support for the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination, nor its internal stability, for a short-term warming of relations with France. Paris now faces a strategic dilemma: maintain a neutral, balanced position in line with its international commitments—or risk jeopardizing ties with a key partner in the Maghreb.

At the same time, Algeria’s negotiation strategy must be understood in light of a shift in posture. By asserting that Algiers has never been naive about France’s implicit support for Morocco’s claims, and by stating that the autonomy plan is a French-backed initiative, President Tebboune sends a clear message: the nature of the Algeria-France relationship has fundamentally changed.

Where Algeria once appealed to France’s historical responsibilities in pursuit of diplomatic balance, it now views the situation with sobriety. No longer seeking to persuade or plead, Algeria observes with solemnity France’s alignment with positions that contradict its core strategic interests. In light of this, Algeria intends to draw the necessary consequences—with the firmness and dignity that define its sovereign stance.

This posture reflects a clear intent: to end a diplomatic hypocrisy that deceives no one. Algeria refuses to play a role in an influence game where soft-spoken rhetoric masks partisan choices. France cannot claim to support a balanced relationship while consistently backing Morocco’s ambitions—at the expense of international law and the legitimate aspirations of the Sahrawi people.

Faithful to its history, values, and principles, Algeria will yield neither to pressure nor opportunism. Its position on Western Sahara is rooted in international legality, and no deal—regardless of its source—will alter that stance.

Conclusion: Negotiations Under High Tension

The renewed exchange between Algiers and Paris marks a diplomatic reconnection, but not yet a true thaw. Behind the symbolic gestures and promises of cooperation lie profound disagreements that will require time, clarity, and mutual respect to resolve.

As long as Algeria’s vital interests—especially regarding Western Sahara and judicial sovereignty—remain unsecured, a full normalization of relations is unlikely. Jean-Noël Barrot’s visit to Algiers may serve as an initial milestone, but the road to genuine rapprochement is long, uncertain, and contingent on reciprocal actions.

In sum, while the renewed dialogue between Algeria and France is welcomed as a sign of easing tensions, it cannot obscure the depth of strategic fractures that persist. This resumption of bilateral talks, though a notable step after months of diplomatic freeze, appears more as an exercise in crisis management than a true reconciliation. Through its firm positions—especially on Western Sahara—Algeria asserts a diplomacy of sovereignty, rejecting any compromise on its core interests.

France, in turn, stands at a crossroads: continue down a path of ambiguity, or redefine the foundations of a sincere, respectful, and balanced partnership. More than a simple diplomatic revival, this moment crystallizes a paradigm shift: one in which symbolic overtures no longer suffice, and only clear commitments and mutual interests can forge a new political contract between the two shores of the Mediterranean.

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By Belgacem Merbah