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Arab League Starts Preparations for Algeria Summit

Arab League foreign ministers meeting in Cairo, Egypt (File photo: Reuters)
Arab League foreign ministers meeting in Cairo, Egypt (File photo: Reuters)
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Arab League Starts Preparations for Algeria Summit

Arab League foreign ministers meeting in Cairo, Egypt (File photo: Reuters)
Arab League foreign ministers meeting in Cairo, Egypt (File photo: Reuters)

Algeria sent an official invitation to the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, to visit and consult on arrangements for holding the thirty-first regular session of the Arab Summit, which Algeria offered to host this year.

Assistant Secretary-General Ambassador Hossam Zaki received the Algerian ambassador to Cairo, Mohand Ladjouzi, who carried a message from Algerian Foreign Minister Sabri Boukadoum in which he offered to prepare for the upcoming Arab summit in light of current challenges facing the Arab world.

Ambassador Zaki said that the Secretary-General's visit to Algeria is expected to take place as soon as possible.

Media reports indicated that Algeria will host the summit at the end of March as the Secretary-General previously confirmed that it will be held as scheduled.

Meanwhile, the 105th ministerial session of the Arab Economic and Social Council kicks off Thursday at the headquarters of the General-Secretariat of the Arab League in Cairo, with the participation of Arab economy and trade ministers.

The Council will discuss preparing economic and social topics for the upcoming Arab summit, in addition to all issues of joint Arab economic and social action.

Assistant Secretary-General and Head of Social Affairs sector at the Arab League, Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, stated that the agenda of the 105th session of the Council includes several important items, namely the economic and social issues of the League’s Council, and follow-up on the implementation of the Arab-African summit decisions issued at its fourth session at Malabo – Equatorial Guinea 2016.

Officials will also prepare the economic aspects for the fifth summit, to be held in Riyadh next March 16 and its theme: “Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) and the developments of the Arab customs union”, along with other economic and social items.

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France Says Unaware of Algerian Trade Curbs as Tensions Build

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
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France Says Unaware of Algerian Trade Curbs as Tensions Build

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)

France said on Thursday that it was not aware of any official measures imposed by Algeria on its imports and exports, but would keep a close eye on the situation as diplomatic sources suggested Algiers may be preparing trade restrictions.
Ties between Paris and Algiers have worsened in recent weeks since France recognized Morocco's sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara, which Morocco wants the international community to recognize as Moroccan, Reuters said.
The decision angered Algiers, which backs the Polisario Front that is seeking an independent state.
"We have not been made aware of such measures, but we are closely watching the situation for our companies in Algeria," France's foreign ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine told reporters at a weekly news conference.
The office of Algerian Prime Minister Nadir Larbaoui issued a statement denying the contents of a post on X by France's former ambassador Xavier Driencourt which shows a screenshot of a document that appears to outline restrictions on imports and exports. Reuters was not able to authenticate the document and Driencourt did not respond to a request for comment.
"Following the false allegations promoted by the former French ambassador to Algeria ... regarding the alleged restrictive measures on foreign trade, the press office of the Prime Minister would like to categorically deny this information which is completely unfounded," it said in a statement.
According to three diplomats, there has been a concerted effort in recent months by Algeria to toughen the business environment for French firms, including wheat exporters.
The diplomats said there had been some signals in recent days that Algiers may look to specifically target French imports and exports, although there had been no official confirmation at this stage.
Algerian officials did not respond to Reuters' requests for comments.
BANKING SPAT
In 2022, Algeria's banking association ordered the end of payments to and from Spain after an official trade ministry directive, although it exempted key gas exports.
That rift, which has since calmed, was also over Madrid's stance on Western Sahara.
French daily newspaper Le Figaro newspaper reported on Thursday that the banking association in the North African country had met banks on Nov 4. and informed them of a potential measure.
Two diplomats told Reuters they were aware of that meeting, but cautioned that the association could not take such a decision unilaterally.
Several French companies operating in Algeria contacted by Reuters said they had not received any new directives and French officials said at this stage no companies had approached them with any specific difficulties.
Grain traders have reported that Algeria overlooked France in wheat tenders last month due to the diplomatic tensions, though Algerian state grains agency OAIC said it treated all suppliers fairly and applied technical requirements to cover its import needs.
The reported trade obstacles echo a diplomatic dispute three years ago that led to France being sidelined from its former colony's wheat tenders for months. Trade between the two countries grew more than 5% in 2023 with hydrocarbon exports from Algeria to France increasing about 15%, although imports to Algeria from France dropped 0.5%, according to the French finance ministry.