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Telegraph
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Algeria expels French officials in worsening diplomatic spat
Algeria has ordered 12 French embassy officials to leave the country within 48 hours as relations between France and its former colony worsen. Jean-Noel Barrot, the French foreign minister, criticised the move as a tit-for-tat measure in response to the arrests of three Algerian nationals in France who are accused of abducting an Algerian government critic last year. For decades, ties between France and Algeria have gone through diplomatic upheavals, with Monday's announcement coming at a delicate time and underscoring the difficulties in repairing ties. 'I am asking Algerian authorities to abandon these expulsion measures. If the decision to send back our officials is maintained, we will have no other choice but to respond immediately,' said Mr Barro t. On Friday, French prosecutors indicted three Algerians, including a consular official, on suspicion of involvement in the April 2024 abduction of Amir Boukhors, an Algerian influencer, in a Paris suburb. The men, who are also being prosecuted for 'terrorist' conspiracy, were placed in pre-trial detention. Algiers claimed the move was aimed at scuppering recent attempts to repair diplomatic relations. Mr Boukhors, known as 'Amir DZ', is an opponent of the Algerian government and has more than a million followers on TikTok. He has been in France since 2016 and was granted political asylum in 2023. He was abducted in April 2024 and released the following day, according to his lawyer. Algiers is demanding the influencer's return to face trial, having issued nine international arrest warrants against him on accusations of fraud and 'terror' offences. France has refused to extradite him. On Saturday, the Algerian foreign ministry denounced 'rotten arguments' by the French interior ministry and criticised an 'unacceptable judicial conspiracy', referring to the arrest of its consular agent. France-Algeria relations have been sour for decades but took a recent turn for the worse after Emmanuel Macron recognised Morocco's sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara, where Algeria has long backed the pro-independence Polisario Front. Relations soured further when Algeria arrested the French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal in November on national security charges, after he told a French hard-Right media outlet that Morocco's territory was truncated in favour of Algeria during French colonial rule. In March, an Algerian court sentenced him to five years in jail. Since then, Algerian authorities have enraged France's hardline interior minister Bruno Retailleau by refusing to take back nationals who have been ordered to leave the country. Mr Retailleau, who is vying to become leader of the opposition Right-wing Republicans party, then called for France to review its visa arrangements with Algeria. In February, France's centrist prime minister François Bayrou threatened to 'denounce' a 1968 agreement that gives Algerians in France special status in terms of movement, residence and employment, unless Algeria did not take back its illegal nationals within six weeks. With relations wearing thin to the point of a diplomatic breakdown, Mr Macron stepped in and sent the French foreign minister to Algiers to mend fences. After a meeting with Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the Algerian President, during the visit, Mr Barrot said both countries wanted to 'rebuild a partnership of equals'. 'Return to an easing of tensions' The spat sparked criticism from the opposition French Right with Jordan Bardella, head of the National Rally party saying the latest tensions proved that the government's 'prostrations' in Algeria had come to nought. 'Brilliant results of Emmanuel Macron's strategy of appeasement,' he wrote on X. ' Algeria is leading us down the garden path,' said party colleague Sébastien Chenu. Despite the friction, French diplomatic sources said that 'contacts are being maintained' and that Paris would like to 'return to an easing of tensions' with Algeria. France and Algeria fought a bloody war from 1954-1962 that led to independence and the conflict has left deep scars in both countries. Historians from both sides have over the last years documented numerous violations including arbitrary killings and detention carried out by French forces. In a sign that memories are still raw, a prominent French journalist last month stepped down from his role as an expert analyst for broadcaster RTL; Jean-Michel Aphatie provoked an uproar by comparing French actions during colonial rule in Algeria to the worst massacre committed by Nazi forces in occupied France. The veteran reporter and broadcaster later acknowledged his comments had created a 'debate' but said it was of great importance to understand the full story over France's 1830-1962 presence in Algeria, saying he was 'horrified' by what he had read in history books. In France, critics accuse Algeria's military leaders of maintaining their grip on power via a 'rente mémorielle', a perpetual exploitation of French colonial rule.
CAF
31-03-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Oscar Barro, the discreet architect of the Little Stallions
Discreet, talented, rigorous are the adjectives that describe Oscar Barro, Head Coach Burkina Faso's U-17 team. A man shaped by humility and hard work, values rooted in his childhood. "I am a child from the working-class neighbourhoods, if I can express myself that way. It taught me to be humble, to work hard, and to never forget where I come from," he confides. This philosophy is one he applies daily, which is evident in his calm demeanour following their 2-1 victory over Cameroon on Monday, 31 March. "It's a good thing done. We are all football fans, and we know how important it is to start a competition as demanding as this one well," he emphasizes, carefully choosing his words with calm and clarity. A Clear Goal: To Reach Greater Heights But behind this apparent discretion lies a well-defined ambition. After the bronze medal won in the last edition, Burkina Faso wants to take the next step. The country of the Upright Men aims for the top in this category. Barro, who worked as a teacher before fully dedicating himself to football, knows how important transmission and progress are. "After the game we just played, where we showed great tactical intelligence, there's no room for hesitation. We aim for the title," he asserts with determination. The Moment of Genius from Tapsoba To realize these ambitions, Oscar Barro can count on the talent of his players. Loukman Tapsoba, in particular, left a lasting impression with a stunning goal. With a magnificent lob from around forty meters, he surprised everyone, including the Cameroonian goalkeeper Junior Lopez, who was too advanced to react. "It's the most beautiful goal of the competition, and it won't be dethroned," Barro assures. Carving His Own Path Oscar Barro does not see the recent performance of the Little Stallions in the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations as a burden but as a stepping stone. The bronze medal won in Algeria in 2023 is a source of motivation and inspiration. "I wasn't present in 2023; it was my brother, Brahima Traoré, who was on the bench. We grew up together, sharing the same life values and the same vision of football. He encouraged and advised me a lot before my arrival in Morocco." A story of transmission and continuity, but also of a unique identity. While Barro follows in the footsteps of his predecessor, he also wants to leave his mark and build his own legacy. With a promising squad and a methodical approach, he knows his team has the opportunity to make history in Burkinabé football
Saba Yemen
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
France proposes sending troops to Greenland in response to Trump's threats
Greenland - Saba: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday that Paris had discussed with Denmark sending troops to Greenland in response to the repeated threats made by US President Donald Trump. "Paris has started discussing the deployment of troops with Denmark, and other EU countries are also ready to consider sending troops if necessary," Barro was quoted as saying by Sud Radio in an interview. "If Denmark asks for help, France will be there. European borders are sovereign borders, whether they are in the north, south, east or west, and no one can tolerate interference in our borders," he added. "Denmark did not want to go ahead with the idea of deploying troops," he explained. Barro's comments came as Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen embarks on a whirlwind tour of European capitals to rally support from allies to deal with US President Donald Trump. Frederiksen was in Berlin and Paris on Tuesday morning to speak with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron respectively, and is due to meet NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels. The US president has increasingly focused on his claim to the island, having previously expressed confidence that the United States would inevitably get Greenland, which currently belongs to the Kingdom of Denmark. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
