Has Algeria turned its back on France? The question is raised by many observers following the periodic interview that President of the Republic Abdelmadjid Tebboune granted to representatives of national media.
Questioned on the state of relations with France, as the crisis has lasted nearly two years, President Tebboune first expressed his full respect for Ms. Ségolène Royal, president of the France-Algeria Association, who recently made a five-day visit to Algeria. He congratulated her for “her courage, intellectual honesty, and frankness,” adding that “she is welcome.” He especially responded with this meaningful phrase that illustrates the level reached in bilateral relations: “If you allow, and in all democracy, I will not answer regarding France.”
Even better, the message is clearer when President Tebboune affirmed that Algeria “maintains good, cordial, and friendly relations with many countries, relations based on mutual interest,” highlighting “the privileged relations linking Algeria to friendly European countries, such as Italy, Spain, Germany, and other states,” and adding that Algeria also maintains “good relations” with major powers, such as the United States of America, Russia, and China.
And France in this list? President Tebboune did not beat around the bush to accuse the former colonial power—without naming it, of course—of pursuing a blocking policy in bilateral negotiations, particularly with several dossiers (memory, OQTF, etc.) still pending. However, this pales in comparison when he again accuses Paris of waging “an economic war” against Algeria by sabotaging talks with the European Union, which Algiers wants to renegotiate the association agreement with.
On this topic, Mr. Tebboune raised the case of exporting Algerian rebar to Europe. “The EU assigns Algeria a quota for each quarter, a quantity that is completely consumed in 12 days, while 85% of Algeria’s purchases come from Europe and, normally, there is free trade,” he said. “That’s why we requested the renegotiation of the association agreement. In reality, there is consensus, minus one,” he said.
This “minus one” is France, which is putting sticks in the wheels and trying to abuse the EU weapon to corner Algeria.
In short, it is pure blackmail that President Tebboune denounces by declaring: “But there are certain countries that incite hatred against Algeria, believing that we will succumb to these vile methods.” According to him, France continues to repeat its mistakes with Algeria.
Moreover, the head of state recalled a precedent, when France decided on an embargo against Algerian wine a few years after independence. This forced Algeria to decree the uprooting of vineyards and replace them with other agricultural crops, particularly cereals. “They don’t want to understand that you shouldn’t blackmail Algeria. It’s strange, with the big (countries), we get along,” President Tebboune indicated.
Questioned on rumors of a visit to Algeria by the French Interior Minister, Laurent Nuñez, the head of state simply said that this project “concerns him.” “It doesn’t concern me. If he wants to come, he is welcome,” he indicated.
For President Tebboune, the issue of Algerians subject to an OQTF in France concerns the host country, excluding any link with the latest exceptional mechanism put in place for the return of Algerian nationals in irregular and precarious situations. On this very point, recalling the policy pursued by former Minister Bruno Retailleau, who wanted to expel Algerians in irregular situations or who committed minor offenses manu militari, President Tebboune was clear, direct, and firm in his warning: “Whoever wants to humiliate or ridicule Algeria has not yet been born