The knife attack on Saturday in Mulhouse, which left one dead and several injured, is instrumentalized to rekindle tensions between France and Algeria.
If the attacker is indeed an Algerian national on radicalization and under the occasion of an OQTF, the situation illustrates the complexity of the expulsion procedures which require rigorous nationality verifications and compliance with international legal procedures.
The French reaction The statements of Bruno Retailleau, French Minister of the Interior, accusing Algeria of having “refused ten times of taking up this individual”, are part of a tense French political context.
These words, which simplify a complex administrative situation, are involved in a climate already marked by disagreements on several files, including colonial memory and migration flow management.
Macron’s position The prudence of Emmanuel Macron in the face of calls for tone tone reflects a finer understanding of bilateral issues. Franco-Algerian relations are based on common interests: economic partnerships, security cooperation in North Africa and cultural exchanges.
This balanced approach, criticized by the French opposition as a sign of weakness, rather testifies to a desire to preserve a constructive dialogue between the two countries.
The real issues if the Mulhouse attack raises legitimate questions about expulsion procedures, it should not obscure the importance of bilateral cooperation based on mutual respect.
The political response in the coming days will have to avoid the pitfall of excessive instrumentalization, while the challenges common to the two countries require more than ever a serene and constructive dialogue.
