This Wednesday, February 26, 2025, the reaction of Algeria following French threats to re -examine all of the bilateral agreements was lively.
The Algerian government expressed its “astonishment” and its deep disapproval after the declarations of the French Prime Minister, François Bayrou, concerning non-compliance with the 1968 agreements and the recurring refusal to accept Algerian nationals under OQTF.
The Algerian Foreign Ministry of Foreign Affairs has quickly reacted, qualifying the French measures on the visas for certain Algerian dignitaries, imposed without prior consultation. Algiers also warned France against the “incalculable consequences” of this decision, stressing that such actions were likely to seriously harm bilateral relations between the two countries. Algeria has said that this kind of behavior, in particular in terms of readmission of nationals, should not be a source of diplomatic tensions.
In parallel, the Algerian government denounced this situation as a “internal political quarrel” in France, fueled by far -right forces. Algiers criticized France for having taken these measures in a context which seems to be more linked to French internal rivalries than a real question of migratory management. This escalation has taken on a more political than human dimension, according to the Algerian authorities, who insisted on the need to maintain relations based on mutual respect and cooperation.
On the French side, the government justified its decisions by the need to better manage migratory flows and strengthen national security, especially due to the high number of Algerian nationals in an irregular situation. The French executive also insisted on the importance of solid bilateral cooperation, but stressed that the 1968 agreements no longer responded to current challenges, particularly in matters of readmission and migratory control. However, this position was perceived by Algiers as unjustified political pressure.
Algeria also recalled that bilateral agreements, although presenting challenges, should not be instrumentalized in a context of French domestic policy. The country has asked France to return to its decisions and favor dialogue in order to find constructive solutions to the issue of migration and readmissions, without using diplomatic threats.
