Algeria has marked a new turning point in its tense relations with France this week by explicitly excluding French companies from its last call for tenders for the import of wheat, reports Reuters exclusively. This decision, which recalls a similar dispute that occurred three years ago, reflects the deterioration of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
At the heart of this tension is the French position on Western Sahara. In July, Paris supported a plan placing the region under Moroccan sovereignty, provoking the anger of Algiers which supports the Polisario front in its quest for independence.
According to six sources close to the file, the Algerian Interprofessional Cereal Office (OAIC) has not invited French companies to participate in the Tuesday calls for tenders. Furthermore, non-French companies have received the explicit instruction not to offer wheat of French origin. This decision comes as the OAIC would have bought more than 500,000 metric tonnes during this call for tenders.
This exclusion could further strengthen the domination of the Black Sea suppliers, particularly Russia, in the Algerian market. A significant change for Algeria, which was for a long time one of the largest customers of French wheat. The situation is all the more complex since France has known this year its weakest wheat harvest since the 1980s, due to unfavorable weather conditions.
