French President Emmanuel Macron has cautioned Algeria against engaging in “political games,” as tensions between the two countries continue to rise, particularly over immigration issues.
Diplomatic relations between Paris and Algiers have been strained since Macron acknowledged Morocco’s sovereignty over the contested Western Sahara region last July. The situation worsened when Algeria refused to accept the return of undocumented Algerian migrants from France.
The situation escalated further after a violent incident last weekend in Mulhouse, where a 37-year-old Algerian migrant, who had been living illegally in France, went on a stabbing spree, killing one person and injuring several others.
“We won’t make progress if there’s no work, we can’t talk to each other through the press, that’s ridiculous, it never works like that,” Macron told reporters during his visit to Porto, Portugal. He emphasized that diplomatic relations should not be subject to political games.
Macron also expressed concern that these issues should not affect millions of French people born to Algerian parents, referring to the large Algerian diaspora in France.
The French Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, has been vocal in his criticisms of Algeria, further escalating tensions. In response, Macron reiterated that “nothing is more important than the safety of our citizens” and stressed the importance of adhering to the 1994 agreement between the two countries that mandates the automatic return of nationals.
In recent months, France has arrested and deported several undocumented Algerians suspected of inciting violence, but Algeria has only accepted the return of one such individual. In response, France has warned that it may impose visa restrictions and limit development aid to Algeria.
Macron also raised concerns over the health of Boualem Sansal, a Franco-Algerian writer arrested in Algeria in November last year on national security charges. Macron condemned Sansal’s detention, calling it “arbitrary” and underscoring that resolving this issue could help rebuild trust between the two nations.
Sansal, 75, is known for his strong support for free speech and his opposition to authoritarianism and Islamism. Algeria’s government has previously accused Macron of “blatant and unacceptable interference” in its internal matters.
