Latest news with #Algerian-French
El Chorouk
6 days ago
- Politics
- El Chorouk
Retailleau ruined relations with Algeria, and the French colonization was brutal.
The French Press Agency (AFP) acted suspiciously in the interview it conducted with the French historian, Benjamin Stora, last Wednesday, focusing on a small aspect of the dialogue related to the role of memory in reviving relations between Algeria and France, while ignoring more important points concerning the heinous crimes of French colonialism in Algeria and the role of the far-right, represented by the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, in destroying the bridges of communication between the two countries. The French Press Agency summarized the interview in a brief dispatch that various French media outlets covered last Wednesday, while the full interview was only disseminated through the agency's YouTube channel on Saturday, May 24. The full interview was rich in details of great importance that the dispatch did not mention. It was striking in following the 'video dialogue,' which lasted for 35 minutes, the disappearance of many points that the French historian discussed regarding Algerian-French relations from the past and present, especially concerning the description of the occupation crimes during the initial period of colonization that lasted for eighty years, as well as the crisis instigated by the far-right to destroy the relations between Algeria and Paris. What Benjamin Stora said: 'The French colonization of Algeria cannot be considered a trivial matter, because it was a colonization unlike any other. There was a colonial invasion that lasted for eighty years. It was truly horrific; there were atrocious massacres that the French only discovered recently. Entire villages and cities were destroyed, and this cannot be ignored. There were burnings (the caves), forced relocations of Algerians from their land, and their confinement in camps.' He adds: 'These are painful memories in the history of Algerians that cannot be underestimated. Algeria was part of France, not just a protectorate like Morocco and Indochina. France's borders, until the 1960s, extended south to Mali, Niger, Libya, and Mauritania… The French believed it was impossible to abandon Algeria, which is rich in oil, gas, phosphate, and gold, which led some of the French people to consider Algeria's independence a betrayal.' General Charles de Gaulle was accused of committing this betrayal, and he was the target of assassination attempts several times until his death in 1970. As for the telegram reported by the French Press Agency last Wednesday (France Press), it focused on the role of memory in bridging the gap between the two countries. It quoted Stora: 'We need strong initiatives, especially regarding the issue of French colonization of Algeria in the 19th century. But today, in my opinion, considering the possibility of launching memory initiatives could serve as an alternative to resuming political relations,' which is 'necessary to resolve issues of immigration or visas.' The agency also overlooked an important aspect of the dialogue, which is the role of Algeria in driving rapprochement through memory. Benjamin Stora pointed out that the idea of creating a joint committee of Algerian and French historians originated in Algeria, and it was an initiative that should have been capitalized on. The historian emphasized that the committee cannot write a shared history because each side has its own perspective. The French consider colonialism as bringing civilization to Algeria, while the Algerians view it as the main reason for the killing of millions, the theft of their wealth, and their illiteracy. In the opinion of the French historian, progress on the memory front could have alleviated tensions through initiatives from the French president, which were embodied in Macron's acknowledgment that the French state is responsible for the assassination of Maurice Audin, Ali Boumendjel, and the martyr Arab Ben Mhidi. However, the controversial shift in the French stance on the Sahrawi issue led to the stifling of that initiative, which was proposed after its crystallization during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Algeria in the summer of 2022. He also accused France of making decisions that intensified the crisis, as it 'reduced the number of visas granted to Algerians without announcing it, from 400 to 200 or 250 thousand, and Algerians are aware of this. Requesting a visa from a holder of a diplomatic passport is considered reaching the brink of a break, which I don't think will happen because there are millions of people from both sides and shared ties of land and lineage.' Stora was asked if he would play the role of mediator to resolve the crisis between the two countries, to which he replied: 'The mediator must be accepted by both parties of the crisis. There is no search for a mediator. The crisis has reduced communication channels. I was indeed received by the two presidents in 2020 and 2021, but many things have changed today; we are in 2025.' He hinted that the French Minister of the Interior is responsible for the deterioration of these bilateral relations.
El Chorouk
23-05-2025
- Politics
- El Chorouk
Retailleau Behind the Leak of a Secret Report, Paris Mosque Warns
The Grand Mosque of Paris criticised the leaked report on the Muslim Brotherhood and the term 'political Islam' in France. The report was presented to French President Emmanuel Macron during a Defence and Security Council meeting. The mosque noted that the document would increase 'discrimination against Muslims and make them vulnerable to certain political agendas.' This report was revealed at a time when Algerian-French relations are experiencing an unprecedented crisis. It was also placed on the agenda of a meeting chaired by Macron and attended by his sovereign ministers: Prime Minister François Bayrou, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, and Justice Minister Gérald Moussa Darmanin. The Grand Mosque of Paris, led by Chemseddine Hafiz, issued a statement criticising the French authorities in light of the aforementioned report. It stated: 'The Grand Mosque of Paris recalls that it has always defended a vision of Islam consistent with the letter and spirit of the principles of the Republic. It condemns Islamic extremism, terrorism, and all manifestations of hatred expressed in the name of Islam.' The leading religious institution for Muslims in France stated: 'Since its founding in 1926, the Grand Mosque of Paris has worked to spread Islam rooted in the values of peace, fraternity, and solidarity, which blend harmoniously with republican principles and the diversity of our society. It symbolises the contribution Muslims have made to the history of France and supports their full citizenship. However, it also 'refuses to allow the legitimate fight against Islamism to become a pretext for stigmatising Muslims and serving particular political agendas.' The statement emphasises that 'the Grand Mosque of Paris wants to represent the voice of the majority of French Muslims who intend to live their faith in a dignified and peaceful manner. However, they are fabricating a problem targeting the Muslim community, accompanied by a malicious development of a growing discriminatory discourse against them.' The leaks related to the Muslim Brotherhood and political Islam in France sparked widespread condemnation among members of the Muslim community, who viewed them as a side effect of the campaign led by the right and the far right, led by Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau. This was evident in the minister's handling of the heinous crime that claimed the life of the young Malian, Aboubakar Cissé, and earlier in his refusal to accept an iftar meal invitation from the dean of the Grand Mosque of Paris. Observers linked Bruno Retailleau's victory as leader of the right-wing Republicans (LR) party to the leaks concerning the religious affairs sector under his tutelage. These leaks serve only the ambitions of the French Interior Minister, who is preparing to submit his candidacy for the presidential elections in two years. This is especially true given that he is now certain that his repeated hostile statements targeting Algeria played a significant role in his victory over his rival, Laurent Wauquiez. Since he was appointed Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau has formulated an anti-immigrant policy, a strategy he has used to attack Algeria by targeting its Muslim community. He is the one who invented what he called a 'gradual response,' which reached its peak last Thursday, when French government spokesperson Sophie Primas announced more than a week ago that the next step in the escalation against Algeria would target its community. It is possible that Macron's meeting with his ministers last Wednesday addressed the targeting of the Algerian community, according to the French government spokesperson. In the absence of any details about what transpired at this meeting, observers believe that Bruno Retailleau leaked the report targeting the Muslim community, marking the beginning of his use of this card in his political agenda. According to what the National People's Assembly member, Saad Laanani, representing the Algerians in the southern region of France, confirmed in a previous statement to 'Echorouk', that any decision targeting immigrants primarily targets the Algerian community, which is considered the largest in France. Therefore, the leaked report, although it targets what it calls the 'Muslim Brotherhood', in reality, aims to strike at the Algerian community, as confirmed by the French government spokesperson, Sophie Primas, on May 15th.
El Chorouk
20-05-2025
- Politics
- El Chorouk
Paris Foreign Minister Renews Appeal to Algeria in Sansal Case
While the French side insists, each time, that the French judiciary is sovereign and the executive authority has no influence over it, officials in Paris find no embarrassment in violating this principle, which is customary in democratic countries, by attempting to interfere in the affairs of the Algerian judiciary when it comes to France's interests. The latest chapter in this equation is what was issued by the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, on Tuesday, April 20, 2025, where he did not hesitate to delve again into the case of the Franco-Algerian writer, Boualem Sansal, which is considered among the issues that have exacerbated relations between the two countries. In an interview with Radio France Internationale 'France Inter', the head of French diplomacy expressed hope that the Algerian authorities would take a 'humanitarian gesture' in favor of the Algerian-French writer Boualem Sansal. It was notable in his speech that he spoke of 'the Algerian authorities', which is usually understood as a reference to the political decision-makers in the country. The French official's statement came on the occasion of the start of the first sessions of the trial of the Franco-Algerian writer, who is accused of undermining the territorial integrity of the country, at the level of the Algiers Judicial Council, which decided to postpone the trial until June 24, with the verdict to be announced on July 1, 2025. Jean-Noël Barrot said: 'I am very concerned about his health. He is an elderly and frail man,' and he went on to comment: 'For this reason, I hope that he will be tried as soon as possible, and if possible in the next few days, so that after this ruling, a humanitarian gesture can be made towards him, a gesture that we have called on the Algerian authorities to make.' This is not the first time that such statements have been issued by French officials, from the highest official, represented by the master of the Elysée Palace, Emmanuel Macron, to his Prime Minister, François Bayrou, and his Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, and officials and deputies in both houses of parliament. However, the Algerian side has not responded to these demands, but rather considered them a blatant interference in the judicial affairs of a sovereign state. The Algerian judiciary had sentenced Boualem Sansal, who has been imprisoned since mid-November, to five years in prison on March 27, following statements Sansal made to the far-right channel 'Frontières'. These statements were interpreted by the Algerian judiciary as causing serious harm to the territorial integrity of the country, in addition to being contrary to historical truth and the reality on the ground. They were also severely criticized by the French historian, Benjamin Stora, who refuted them with irrefutable and undeniable evidence. The French minister's statements came in the context of an unjustified French escalation regarding this issue. On May 6, the French National Assembly (the lower house of parliament) adopted a parliamentary resolution calling for the 'immediate release' of the Franco-Algerian writer. The deputies also urged, through that resolution, the European Union to pressure Algeria to release Boualem Sansal, and also urged Brussels to condition any cooperation with Algeria on the release of the convicted writer. According to observers, the French foreign minister's statement will have no effect on the case of the Franco-Algerian writer, as long as Paris continues its provocations against Algeria, by targeting its consular interests (kidnapping and imprisoning consular officials outside diplomatic norms and the provisions of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations), in addition to violating bilateral agreements in the diplomatic field, not to mention the continuous harassment of the Algerian community.
El Chorouk
19-05-2025
- Politics
- El Chorouk
Algeria Will Respond Strictly To French Excesses Regarding Visas
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad, and African Affairs has stated that Algeria is following with great surprise the recent developments regarding the management of French communication on the issue of visas in general, and the exemption of diplomatic passports and service passports from this measure in particular, confirming that it will respond by strictly applying the principle of reciprocity in proportion to the French side's breach of its commitments and pledges. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday that the Algerian government has noted that the French communication management on this matter now appears to be 'strange and suspicious behavior consisting of crude leaks to media outlets skillfully selected by the French Ministry of Interior and the French Directorate General of Police.' Through this unusual channel, French decisions are now being announced, in complete disregard of established diplomatic practices and in flagrant violation of the provisions of the 2013 Algerian-French agreement regulating visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic passports and service passports. In fact, to this day, in flagrant violation of the provisions of Article 8 of this agreement, Algeria has not received any official French notification through the only channel used in relations between states, which in this case is the diplomatic channel. The Chargé d'Affaires at the French Embassy in Algeria, who was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs four times on this matter, confirmed that he had not received any instructions from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and that he has not been able to respond to official Algerian requests for clarification on this matter to this day. The Algerian government officially reminds in this regard that the French side bears full and complete responsibility for the initial violations of the 2013 agreement on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic passports and service passports, and these violations, immediately upon their occurrence, were the subject of an official statement from the Algerian authorities which denounced them and held the French side responsible in this regard. Consequently, the Algerian government categorically rejects these fallacies and considers the French claim that Algeria was the first to breach its obligations under the 2013 agreement to be contrary to the truth. In addition to these necessary clarifications, the Algerian government takes this opportunity to remind that regarding the exemption of holders of diplomatic passports and service passports from visas, Algeria was never the one who requested it. When visas were imposed in 1986 on citizens of both countries, it was France that initiated the proposal to exempt holders of diplomatic passports from this measure, but Algeria at that time clearly and explicitly rejected this proposal. Later, during the 1990s, France renewed this proposal three times and it was always met with the same rejection from the Algerian side. Algeria only accepted this in 2007 when the French authorities returned to raising the same issue, and Algeria finally agreed to conclude a bilateral agreement exempting holders of diplomatic passports from visas. Always at the French initiative, a new agreement was concluded in 2013 that expanded the scope of the exemption to include holders of service passports, thus canceling the limited agreement of 2007. In general, it is clear in reality that the French government is inclined towards freezing or suspending the 2013 agreement without taking responsibility or consequences for that, in complete disregard of the provisions of the applicable agreement. Today, as yesterday, Algeria has no special interest or notable attachment to this agreement, and it clearly notes what resembles an actual suspension of the agreement by France without respecting the necessary legal procedures. It will draw all the consequences from that and take the necessary measures, and will respond by strictly applying the principle of reciprocity in proportion to the French side's breach of its commitments and pledges.
El Chorouk
19-05-2025
- Politics
- El Chorouk
Bruno Retailleau, Leader of a Party That No Longer Makes Presidents in France
French Interior Minister Bruno Rotailleau has assumed the leadership of the right-wing Republicans (LR) party, with his sights set on winning the Élysée Palace in the 2027 presidential election. However, this party, which has produced several presidents in the past, is no longer capable of making presidents in France. This politician's rise to the leadership of the right-wing party coincided with a severe political and diplomatic crisis with Algeria. Many moderate politicians in Algeria and France view him as the cause of the deepening impasse in Algerian-French relations since last summer, which saw French President Emmanuel Macron's decision to distort his country's position on the Western Sahara issue by blatantly siding with the Moroccan regime. Many observers have discussed Bruno Rotailleau's political ambitions and their repercussions for relations with Algeria, pointing to the possibility of running for the French presidential election. However, this possibility remains highly unlikely, according to observers, given the weakness of his party, which came in fourth place in the last legislative elections, with only 46 seats in the French National Assembly (the lower house of parliament). This is compared to the left-wing movement, known as the 'New National Front,' which won 182 seats. The right-wing movement in France, both traditional and extreme, currently consists of four parties: the National Rally (RN), a descendant of the far-right National Front, founded by Jean-Marie Le Pen, the third-largest political party based on the results of the recent legislative elections; the Republicans (LR); the Union of the Right for the Republic, founded by Éric Ciotti, the former president of the Republicans; and another small party, the Reconquest Party (Reconquéte), founded by the Jewish extremist Éric Zemmour. For the Algerian diplomat Mustapha Zeghlache, Bruno Retailleau's ascension to the Élysée Palace remains extremely difficult, given the fragmentation of the right-wing and far-right movements, as well as the decline of the 'Republicans' LR party in the French political scene due to the divisions it has experienced, the most recent of which occurred last summer, when its former president decided to split and form an alliance with the extremist 'National Front' party. Retailleau's first statement after his victory in the Republicans' presidential election was to emphasise that his primary focus would be on unifying the right-wing faction. However, the contradictions on the ground appear far greater than he imagined, making this task difficult, if not impossible. In a statement to Echorouk, Zeghlach explained, 'Even though it's too early, and the possibility of Retailleau running for the presidency and winning is disturbing to Algeria and its interests, it will be extremely difficult to achieve his dreams, because the political landscape in France has changed significantly, and his party is no longer as popular as it once was.' It is well known that the Republicans party, formerly known as the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) before changing its name in 2015, which embodies Gaullist values, of which only the name remains, has brought numerous presidents to the Élysée Palace, such as General de Gaulle, Jacques Chirac, and most recently Nicolas Sarkozy. However, today it has not even been able to secure second or third place in legislative or local elections, underscoring the difficulty Bruno Retailleau faces in relying on this party to achieve his dreams. The former diplomat spoke about the inevitability of alliances in winning the French presidency. He also noted that the presence of right-wing figures with significant political ambitions, such as Jordan Bardella, leader of the National Rally party, following Marine Le Pen's barring from running, would complicate Retailleau's task, as he will face a left-wing alliance with which he has considerable animosity and hostility.
