Macron Holds Emergency Meeting as France-Algeria Relations Hit New Low

Watan-An emergency meeting was held at the Élysée Palace on Wednesday night to address the deepening diplomatic crisis between France and Algeria, according to French government sources on Thursday.

The meeting, focused exclusively on Algeria, brought together President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister François Bayrou, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, and Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin.

The rift between Paris and Algiers, now lasting about ten months, has become one of the most severe diplomatic breakdowns in recent memory. It has involved mutual expulsions of personnel, the recall of ambassadors, and restrictions on diplomatic visas.

Macron’s Western Sahara Stance Reignites France-Algeria Diplomatic Rift

The crisis escalated significantly after Macron expressed support on July 30, 2024, for Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, a move that Algeria fiercely opposes.

Western Sahara is considered a non-self-governing territory by the United Nations. It was formerly a Spanish colony and is currently 80% controlled by Morocco. Algeria-backed Polisario Front has demanded the region’s independence for nearly five decades.

Hopes for a thaw in relations briefly emerged in April after a phone call between Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, but communication has since broken down entirely.

Migration Standoff and Jailing of Author Deepen France-Algeria Tensions

Even previously maintained areas of cooperation, such as on migration, have reached a standstill. The French Interior Ministry seeks to deport dozens of Algerians with removal orders, but Algerian authorities are accepting fewer returnees, citing limited capacity in detention centers.

Another flashpoint is the case of renowned Algerian author Boualem Sansal, who was arrested at Algiers Airport on November 16, 2024, and later sentenced to five years in prison on March 27 for “undermining national unity.”

The charge stemmed from an interview with Frontière, a French far-right publication, in which Sansal allegedly echoed Moroccan claims that territories were taken from it and given to Algeria under French colonial rule.

Despite repeated calls from French officials—including Macron himself—for Sansal’s release or presidential pardon, the Algerian government has not responded.