Nour Chahine
Traveling to Algeria from August 25 to 27, Emmanuel Macron will address the major issues of diplomatic relations between France and Algeria, in particular on the question of the war in Ukraine or the supply of gas to Europeans. But after a long diplomatic quarrel between Paris and Algiers, what do the Algerians really expect from this visit?
For Emmanuel Macron, the stated ambition is to open “a new page for the future” in Franco-Algerian relations, as announced during his first trip to Algiers, in December 2017. Thus from Thursday 25 to Saturday 27, the President of the Republic, accompanied by Catherine Colonna, Bruno Le Maire and Gérald Darmanin, “will discuss the major issues concerning common concerns”.
The visa issue has strained relations between Paris and Algiers
This visit is highly anticipated in Algiers. After a long diplomatic quarrel, the files and subjects of disagreement accumulated, in particular on the question of memory or the reduction in the number of visas granted to Algerians, explains journalist Hassan Bouali. “The visa issue had a negative impact on Algerian-French relations in Algeria. You know very well the importance of the Algerian community in France, 4 to 5 million people according to estimates. It was very badly perceived here And suddenly, I think it complicated relations between France and Algeria a little bit,” he said at the microphone of Europe 1.
“We must be closer than ever”
On the side of businessmen, we prefer to speak of partnership and to see more French companies investing in Algeria. In any case, this is the opinion of Sami Agli, the president of the Algerian Confederation of Employers: “Between Algeria and France, we are very far from the potential between the two countries. With France, I have said, today we must be closer than ever and really each play their role in their own part. Co-production is a priority. Collocation is a priority more than ever”.
After several months of crisis, Algiers has turned to other partners, notably Italy, Turkey and even China, daily distancing the prospect of restoring relations with France.