Algerian Ambassador to Return to France in Coming Days, Says Elysee

French President Emmanuel Macron (R) and Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (L) leave at the end of a joint press conference at the presidential palace in Algiers, Algeria, Aug. 25, 2022. (AFP)
French President Emmanuel Macron (R) and Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (L) leave at the end of a joint press conference at the presidential palace in Algiers, Algeria, Aug. 25, 2022. (AFP)
TT

Algerian Ambassador to Return to France in Coming Days, Says Elysee

French President Emmanuel Macron (R) and Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (L) leave at the end of a joint press conference at the presidential palace in Algiers, Algeria, Aug. 25, 2022. (AFP)
French President Emmanuel Macron (R) and Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (L) leave at the end of a joint press conference at the presidential palace in Algiers, Algeria, Aug. 25, 2022. (AFP)

Algeria's ambassador to France will return to Paris in the coming days, French President Emmanuel Macron's Elysee office said on Friday, in a move signaling a recovery in relations a month after a diplomatic spat.

The Elysee palace said that during a telephone conversation, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune had told Macron that the ambassador would return.

In February, Algeria recalled its ambassador to Paris, accusing France of orchestrating the escape of an activist it wants for arrest and triggering a new crisis between the countries after months of warming relations.

Amira Bouraoui, a rights activist detained during the 2019 mass protests in Algeria and freed from prison in 2020, had allegedly crossed into Tunisia illegally after evading Algerian judicial surveillance, according to Algerian and French media.

She was arrested in Tunisia in early February but was later allowed to fly to France, French media have reported.

"The two heads of state have discussed the conditions of the departure from Tunisia and arrival in France... of a Franco-Algerian national ... this discussion has cleared up misunderstandings," the Elysee statement said.

It added that following Macron's visit to Algeria last August, the presidents agreed on the need to boost cooperation between the two countries in every area, with a view to a future state visit to France by Tebboune.



France Declines to Comment on Algeria’s Anger over Recognition of Morocco’s Claim over Sahara

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

France Declines to Comment on Algeria’s Anger over Recognition of Morocco’s Claim over Sahara

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

Paris declined to comment on Algeria’s “strong condemnation” of the French government’s decision to recognize Morocco’s claim over the Sahara.

The office of the French Foreign Ministry refused to respond to an AFP request for a comment on the Algeria’s stance.

It did say that further comments could impact the trip Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune is set to make to France in late September or early October.

The visit has been postponed on numerous occasions over disagreements between the two countries.

France had explicitly expressed its constant and clear support for the autonomy rule proposal over the Sahara during Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne’s visit to Morocco in February, reported AFP.

The position has helped improve ties between Rabat and Paris.

On Thursday, the Algerian Foreign Ministry expressed “great regret and strong denunciation" about the French government's decision to recognize an autonomy plan for the Western Sahara region "within Moroccan sovereignty”.

Algeria was informed of the decision by France in recent days, an Algerian foreign ministry statement added.

The ministry also said Algeria would draw all the consequences from the decision and hold the French government alone completely responsible.