A list of Algerians to expel from France soon transmitted to Algiers

Paris is preparing to transmit to the Algerian authorities a first list of Algerians to expel from France, with the wish that Algiers seize it to initiate a warming of diplomatic relations today deteriorated by the migratory question and the Western Sahara file.

Three government sources said Thursday March 13 at the France-Presse (AFP) agency that this list, including “Several dozen” of names, was to be officially addressed to Algeria very soon, a source evoking “This week”another one “Today or tomorrow”the third noting the character “Imminent”. “It’s a first list”said on Wednesday on RTL radio the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, himself reporting a few dozen people.

Algeria’s refusal to accept nationals in an irregular situation returned by Paris, including the author of an attack which killed one on February 22 in Mulhouse (is of France), finished invenimating relations already very degraded since the recognition, by France, at the end of July 2024, of Moroccan sovereignty on Western Sahara.

By accessing a demand from Morocco, for whom the Sahara is an existential cause, Emmanuel Macron sparked serious turbulence with Algiers. And the reports have still been tense with the detention of the Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, which Paris arbitrary judge.

Do not tense the Algerian power more

The list of expellable Algerians, as it stands, seems far from the aspirations of Bruno Retailleau, who had initially mentioned several hundred people. But other lists could follow.

Mr. Retailleau met Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday, “Head to head”said the France-Presse (AFP) agency a relative of the French president (AFP). “On Algeria, there are a lot about their differences”he stressed, when they “Agree on the principle: to expel Algerians” Under an obligation to leave French territory (OQTF).

However, the Head of State wishes to more tense the Algerian power on the migratory issue, to avoid a boomerang effect on other sensitive subjects such as the maintenance of trade in anti -terrorist intelligence.

In the backdrop of warming diplomatic relations, the necessary cooperation is played out to effectively fight against jihadism in the Sahel. The stability of Algeria, the largest country in Africa, surrounded by neighbors whose security situation is chaotic, has an interest in France.

“Quasi-Rupture”

In addition, Paris has in mind the possible return of Syria, Algerian or Franco-Algerian jihadists, a potential threat to France. French diplomats recently judged that the two countries were in a situation of “Quasi-Rupture”. Emmanuel Macron tried to calm the game by calling for ceasing to “Talking to each other by press”. “It’s ridiculous, it never works like that”he launched at the end of February.

A response to the Algerian president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who had denounced the “Deleter climate” Between the two countries in an interview with the newspaper Opinionthen evoking the need to resume dialogue, on the condition that Emmanuel Macron expresses the wish.

The Algerian press had praised “Solving words” of the French head of state while regretting the bidding of Bruno Retailleau. Asked about a potential resumption of direct dialogue between the two presidents, the Elysée did not respond.

This week, it was the French Minister of Foreign Affairs who reported the will of Paris to take up a language with Algiers. “Of course France aspires to have good relations with Algeria, which is a neighboring country with which our relations are dense”assured Jean-Noël Barrot. “For this, these relationships must be subsided. But appeasement cannot be decreed unilaterally ”he nevertheless underlined.

“Treat our disputes”

He also called on the Algerian authorities to seize the list of Algerian nationals to expel so that they “Thus initiate a new phase of our relationships which allows us to deal with our disputes and to initiate possible strategic cooperation”.

For the time being, tension seems intact. The elected officials of Marseille, Montpellier and Nice announced that Algeria had broken its consular relations with these southern cities. “We have not received any official notification doing suspension, by Algerian consulates, their consular activities”assured a diplomatic source to AFP.

“The delivery of a list of names to be expelled offers a respite but does not deactivate the causes of the crisisunderlines Hasni Abidi, director of the Center for Studies and Research on the Arab and Mediterranean World, in Geneva. Only a resumption of diplomatic action and a dialogue can allow an honorable exit. »»