Macron Seeks Fresh Start with Algiers Amid Lingering Tensions

Macron Calls for a Calmer Bilateral Climate

Speaking at the G20 summit in Johannesburg, President Emmanuel Macron urged an “appeased” relationship with Algeria, emphasising that the present state of affairs could not continue. His choice of words signalled both urgency and caution, positioning Paris as eager to reopen channels while acknowledging that mistrust has accumulated on both shores of the Mediterranean.

Security, Migration and Economy Remain Unsettled

Macron identified three interconnected fault lines—security, migration and economic cooperation—that remain below expectations. He conceded that the bilateral mechanism currently in place is failing to deliver tangible results. By naming these dossiers together, he framed the challenge as multidimensional, implying that progress in one area will be meaningless without parallel advances in the others.

Western Sahara: A Complicating Backdrop

The Western Sahara dispute has long fuelled friction between Paris and Algiers, and Macron did not hide its enduring sensitivity. The disagreement acts as a background noise that can drown out goodwill, complicating every conversation on trade, visas or joint policing. Both capitals have struggled to compartmentalise the issue, leaving it to colour nearly all diplomatic exchanges.

Retailleau’s 2025 Statements and Their Fallout

Relations deteriorated sharply in 2025 after then-Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau delivered a string of harsh comments targeting Algeria. The remarks triggered a total freeze in migration cooperation and curtailed broader engagement. Macron’s Saturday remarks indirectly distanced the Élysée from that episode, suggesting that a single ministerial voice had derailed years of patient work.

Retailleau’s Departure Opens Space for Dialogue

Retailleau’s eventual exit from government removed a tangible roadblock. While Macron avoided assigning blame, his sequencing was clear: the minister’s departure preceded any substantive step toward détente. It enabled Paris and Algiers to test new signals without the shadow of a domestic political controversy dominating headlines on either side.

Boualem Sansal’s Pardon: A Symbolic Ice-breaker

Algiers’ pardon of Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal provided Macron with a concrete example of progress. He praised the move as an early return on discreet diplomacy. The author’s liberation, though symbolic, allowed both publics to visualise the benefits of engagement, illustrating how a single humanitarian gesture can lubricate stalled state-to-state machinery.

Domestic Politics: A Mutual Trap

Macron warned that domestic actors in both countries routinely hijack the bilateral agenda. In France, Algeria is often weaponised in electoral debates; in Algeria, France occupies a similar role. By identifying this mirror dynamic, Macron invited stakeholders to step outside populist reflexes. His appeal positioned the presidency as a referee determined to shield strategic files from partisan turbulence.

Respect and Demand: Macron’s Dual Compass

The French leader laid out a two-pronged method: respect as the precondition, demand as the driver. He argued that insults obstruct progress, whereas clear benchmarks sustain it. This rhetorical pairing served to reassure Algerian counterparts of France’s intentions while signalling to French audiences that the Élysée will insist on measurable outcomes.

Inter-Ministerial Tasking and Early Returns

Several weeks before the G20, Macron convened ministers and senior officials to engineer a new process. He disclosed that these discussions have already yielded ‘re-engagements of conversations,’ the Sansal case being the first visible result. The revelation hinted at a deliberately low-profile phase in which sensitive files are tackled away from headlines to avoid premature backlash.

Humility, Constancy and the Long Road Ahead

Macron closed his remarks by underscoring humility and constancy. The caution suggests Paris expects a protracted path peppered with setbacks. However, by publicly committing to steady engagement, he also boxed himself into maintaining momentum, aware that Algerian leaders will measure sincerity through follow-up rather than rhetoric.

Calculated Optimism in Paris and Algiers

While Macron refrained from predicting a timeline, the architecture he sketched offers a roadmap for incremental gains. The emphasis on shared interests may help insulate the dialogue from future shocks. If both sides translate symbolic gestures into sustained technical cooperation, the long-sought ‘appeased’ relationship could inch from aspiration toward practice.