Algeria has firmly rejected a proposal from France aimed at easing tensions over the movement of Algerian officials in French territory, marking another low point in Franco-Algerian relations.
The diplomatic strain has intensified since Paris’ recognition of Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, and escalated further following the detention of two French nationals in Algeria: the writer Boualem Sansal and journalist Christophe Gleizes.
These incidents have fueled mutual suspicion, complicating any prospects for constructive dialogue between the two countries.
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has taken a hard line, questioning the continued relevance of the 1968 agreements that grant Algerians special privileges in France, including simplified movement and residence rights.
“These conventions, inherited from the post-independence period, are now at the heart of a diplomatic standoff,” officials said, particularly over access to sensitive areas such as airport zones.
In an attempt to defuse the crisis, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Quai d’Orsay) proposed on August 7 a derogation mechanism allowing conditional access to restricted zones, subject to strict formalities.
However, Algeria dismissed the plan as “humiliating” and incompatible with established international diplomatic norms.
The 1968 agreements, long considered a cornerstone of Franco-Algerian cooperation, have become a focal point for disagreement.
Algerian officials maintain that any perceived curtailment of their privileges undermines the historic relationship and breaches diplomatic standards.
Observers note that the dispute over these conventions highlights the fragility of bilateral relations, which have been eroded not only by political differences over North African regional issues but also by increasing security and immigration concerns in France.
As both sides dig in, analysts warn that without a compromise acceptable to Algeria, tensions could further disrupt Franco-Algerian cooperation on trade, security, and cultural exchange, and risk prolonging a diplomatic impasse that has already affected citizens and officials on both sides.
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