France and Algeria have cautiously reinitiated diplomatic engagement after months of escalating tensions that have dented both nations' cooperation and economic ties. The revived dialogue, marked by a visit from French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to Algiers, follows a phone call between Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Abdelmadjid Tebboune, during which they outlined a tentative roadmap to ease hostilities.
This renewed communication comes against a backdrop of strained relations, worsened last July when Macron publicly supported Moroccan autonomy over Western Sahara—an issue at the heart of Algeria’s regional stance. The diplomatic fallout has been swift and wide-ranging, with Paris accusing Algiers of deliberately curbing French economic activity in the country, leading to a sharp drop in bilateral trade—by as much as 30%, according to French officials.
Beyond trade, the diplomatic chill has disrupted critical cooperation on migration, security, and legal matters. Around 10% of France’s population has familial or historical ties to Algeria, amplifying the domestic stakes of this international rift.
Algeria has reportedly stalled key permits and financing for French businesses, most notably in the wheat trade. Once a top supplier, France has shipped just a single vessel—30,000 tons—of wheat to Algeria this season, compared to several million tons in previous years. Algerian state agency OAIC denies any bias, stating all vendors are evaluated against the same technical standards.
“We're hoping Barrot’s visit brings some clarity, but it’s wait-and-see for now,” said a French grain trader. “Our wheat needs new buyers.”
The breakdown has also frozen joint security operations, including those targeting Islamist groups. Relations were further tested by the November arrest of 80-year-old Franco-Algerian author Boualem Sansal, later sentenced to five years in prison. French diplomats are quietly advocating for a presidential pardon.
Migration remains another flashpoint. France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has called for renegotiating a 1968 accord that facilitates Algerian immigration, after Algiers refused to repatriate nationals subject to deportation orders under the “OQTF” program.
The tensions are rooted in a fraught history. Algeria's war for independence from 1954 to 1962 claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and left deep scars on both nations. Macron has attempted to acknowledge past injustices while criticizing Algeria’s leadership for allegedly manipulating historical narratives to stoke anti-French sentiment.
“Algeria sees Macron’s backing of Moroccan claims over Western Sahara as a profound betrayal,” said Jalel Harchaoui of the Royal United Services Institute. “As long as that stance remains, Algiers is unlikely to roll out the red carpet for French firms.”
Though dialogue has resumed, the path to genuine reconciliation appears long and uncertain.