Latest from El Chorouk
El Chorouk
10 hours ago
- Politics
- El Chorouk
Algerian Foreign Ministry Official Responds to the French Interior Minister
An official source at the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs was inquired about the recent statement by French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau to Le Figaro newspaper, in which he announced his intention to instruct French prefectures 'not to recognise passports issued by Algerian consulates to Algerian citizens to obtain residence permits.' The source was keen to recall, first, that granting these passports is a right for Algerian citizens and that issuing them is a duty incumbent upon the sovereign Algerian state. Therefore, recognising these passports is a duty imposed upon the French state. The same source considered the French minister's statement to be arbitrary, discriminatory, and an abuse of power, as it explicitly contravenes French law itself. As far as its author is concerned, this statement has a clear political dimension, is also legally unfounded, and is not based on any rule in French law itself. In the same context, the official explained that the passports in question are issued at the request of the French prefectures themselves, as they are indispensable reference documents in applications for residence permits. On this basis, the failure to recognise these passports, as stated by the French Interior Minister, constitutes a violation of individual rights and a further breach of France's bilateral and international obligations.
El Chorouk
10 hours ago
- Business
- El Chorouk
Hydrocarbons: 'Signing of 5 major contracts worth over $600 million USD'
On Monday, the Minister of Energy, Mines, and Renewable Energies, Mr. Mohamed Arkab, oversaw the signing ceremony of 5 hydrocarbon contracts with foreign partners, with a total investment value of no less than $606 million USD, for a period extending up to 30 years. According to a statement from the supervising ministry, these contracts are part of the results of the 'Algeria Bid Round 2024,' which is the first international competition organized under the new Hydrocarbons Law No. 19-13. This round resulted in the awarding of 5 out of six proposed blocks for contracts extending over 30 years, including 7 years dedicated to exploration work, with a minimum total investment estimated at $606 million USD. A 'participation' contract was signed between Sonatrach and the alliance of Swiss company 'Philada' and Austrian company 'ZenGas,' concerning the 'Toual 2' block (Berkine Basin) in the southern wilayas or provinces of Ouargla and Illizi. Sonatrach also signed a 'participation' contract with the Chinese company 'Sinopec,' concerning the 'Gourn El Goussa 2' block (Gourara-Timimoun Basin) in the southern provinces of Bechar, Beni Abbes, El Bayadh, and Timimoun. The third contract was in the form of 'production sharing' between Sonatrach and the alliance of the Italian consortium 'Eni' and the Thai 'PTTEP,' concerning the 'Reggane 2' block in Adrar wilaya. A 'production sharing' contract was also signed between Sonatrach and the Chinese company 'ZPEC,' concerning the 'Zarafa 2' block (Ahnet-Gourara Basin) in the wilayas of Adrar and In Salah. The fifth contract was signed in the form of production sharing between Sonatrach and the alliance of 'Qatar Energy' and 'TotalEnergies,' concerning the 'Ahara' site in southern Illizi province. The same source confirmed that these results reflect the attractiveness of the new investment climate in Algeria, supported by a modern and flexible legal framework, and a clear strategy aimed at strengthening value-added partnerships, especially in the fields of exploration and the valorization of national hydrocarbon resources. The statement indicated that through this step, Algeria reaffirms its commitment to supporting sustainable investments in the energy sector, thereby enhancing its contribution to economic development and consolidating its position as a reliable and promising destination in the field of hydrocarbons at the international level.
El Chorouk
a day ago
- Politics
- El Chorouk
A new book reveals Macron's exploitation of memory in the relationship with Algeria
A new book published in France, titled 'The Poisonous President,' shed light on Emmanuel Macron's attempt to exploit the sensitive memory file with Algeria as a lever in his political project, which he began in 2016, and after only one year, he managed to ascend to the Élysée throne. The book, published by 'Robert Laffont' publishing house, is an 'investigation into the real President Emmanuel Macron,' authored by Étienne Campion. In it, the author introduces the early beginnings of the Élysée Palace master's thinking on dealing with the Algerian file, and at the forefront of its dimensions is the memory dimension, which is considered the most sensitive among all other files. The author says: 'Macron's story with Algeria began in 2016. Where did it come from? What motivated him to focus his efforts on the memory file with Algeria?' The author answers this question by attributing the reason to the turbulent political relationship between Paris and Algeria, which has extended for decades. 'Because the Algerian issue is not considered by the French due to the wounds left by memory and repressed memories.' Étienne Campion believes that the file of France's colonial past in Algeria posed a challenge that all of Macron's predecessors faced, such as Nicolas Sarkozy (2007 / 2012), and François Hollande (2012 / 2017) also did not deal with the file for various reasons. Therefore, Macron tried to embody the desire for reconciliation between Algeria and Paris, crediting the historian Benjamin Stora, Algerian-born (born in Constantine in 1950), for this. According to the book, Benjamin Stora was the first to confirm that 'the issue of France's colonial past in Algeria directly or indirectly affects everyone on both sides: descendants of immigrants, Pieds-Noirs, Harkis, Jews, conscripts… an unimaginable collective memory.' Here, Étienne Campion pointed out that the historian Benjamin Stora met Emmanuel Macron in 2014, and according to the same source, the credit for this goes to Paul Jean-Ortiz, the diplomatic advisor to the former French President, François Hollande, knowing that Jean-Ortiz was an old friend of historian Stora. Despite Jean-Ortiz's death in the same year, the relationship between the historian and the future president of France at the time remained. They met in 2016, and Macron was a prospective presidential candidate. During the meeting, the French president showed an overwhelming desire to tackle this sensitive file, unlike his predecessor François Hollande, who was cautious about taking it too far. Benjamin Stora was not aware of what Macron, the presidential candidate, was thinking, says Étienne Campion, when he visited Algeria in February 2017, where he issued a statement that turned many expectations upside down when he described colonialism as a 'crime against humanity' and acknowledged that 'we must face it and apologize to those against whom we committed these acts.' The author asks: 'Why did he do that? Was it to position himself among progressives? And was it to make a sharp turn to the left?' He answers: 'Benjamin Stora has nothing to do with it, but he believes that his excessive will to act is shown through this initiative. Can this statement lead to anything? Stora, optimistic despite everything, believes that this young president, who, if he addresses him informally, may have the same vision and boldness that previous generations did not have.' The author also spoke about a meeting between Macron and former Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in December 2017, during an official visit to Algeria, at his therapeutic residence. The French president tried to get an approach from his Algerian counterpart on the 'Harkis' issue, telling him: 'Mr. President, I am a young president, and I am well aware that I did not live through that period. Isn't this the right time for forgiveness?' However, the former president responded firmly. 'These are traitors… Never.'
El Chorouk
3 days ago
- Politics
- El Chorouk
European Union Distances Itself From Sansal's Support Committee
Noëlle Lenoir, president of the so-called International Committee in Support of Franco-Algerian Writer Boualem Sansal, expressed her dismay at the failure of the 'strategy of extreme restraint' adopted by the French authorities and the lack of European Union support to confront Algeria's strict handling of the Sansal case. This was the conclusion reached by the committee at a meeting of its members held on Thursday, July 17, in Paris. The committee acknowledged, according to a statement circulated to the press and largely published in French media, that its efforts over nearly eight months 'have not borne fruit.' This has prompted them to reconsider their working methods and seek out prominent figures with strong friendships with the Algerian authorities to soften their stance. In this regard, they mentioned the name of the revolutionary Brazilian President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The meeting of Sansal's advocates came after hopes of a presidential pardon for the prisoner on the occasion of Independence Day, on July 5, had faded. The hopes of a humanitarian release, as they had subsequently promoted, also evaporated. The Algerian Press Agency settled the controversy once and for all, confirming that Sansal would not be released and that the decision of the Algerian judicial authorities would remain supreme, as President Abdelmadjid Tebboune had also stated on multiple occasions. In a desperate tone, Noëlle Lenoir spoke about the European Commission's position on the committee's efforts with her: 'They tell us they support us, but they do nothing.' This is the conclusion Lenoir reached after meeting with the working group of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and with Kaja Kallas. The French authorities were not spared criticism from the Sansal Support Committee, which attacked French President Emmanuel Macron's handling of the Sansal case. According to the committee's spokesperson, Arnaud Benedetti, 'The strategy of excessive restraint chosen by the Élysée Palace and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yielded results.' French government spokesperson Sophie Primas confirmed, after Paris confirmed that Sansal would not receive a presidential pardon, that the French authorities do not see verbal violence as a solution to the Sansal case, in a letter addressed to the Sansal Support Committee and all those who follow its approach. Commenting on the controversial statements of French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, the Élysée Palace and Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot have repeatedly affirmed that the diplomatic path remains Macron's preferred option, despite the failure of all previous attempts. This is a fact that the far right, both politically and in the media, is seeking to exploit to undermine Macron's strategy and return to the logic of escalation advocated by Bruno Retailleau, whose failure has also been confirmed. The presence of former French ambassador to Algeria, Xavier Driencourt, among the committee's members is a development that is likely to further complicate the work of Sansal's defenders, given his extremist positions on Algeria. The proposals he put forward to pressure for the release of the Franco-Algerian writer were inspired by the campaign he led against Algeria for nearly a year. These included calls to abolish the 1968 historical immigration agreement between the two countries, limit the number of visas granted to Algerians, and reduce the number of Algerian consulates on French soil. As for the retired diplomat, France has not yet had its say (…), because the French authorities, he said, have not initiated any escalatory measures, although Paris unilaterally suspended the 2007 and 2013 agreements on Algerian diplomatic passports, which required the Algerian side to respond within the framework of the principle of reciprocity.
El Chorouk
5 days ago
- Politics
- El Chorouk
French Intelligence Leaks Document Targeting Algeria!
The decline in official French statements hostile to Algeria does not necessarily mean that Paris has a desire to de-escalate and restore bilateral relations, which have been on ice for about a year now. The proof is the leaking of an official document from a sovereign French body that attacks Algeria and accuses it of destabilizing France. This document was issued by the 'French Service for Vigilance and Protection against Foreign Digital Interference,' known by its acronym 'Viginum,' which represents the technical information branch of French intelligence. It was leaked to the satirical newspaper 'Le Canard Enchaîné' and includes accusations that Algeria is waging an electronic war against France with the aim of destabilizing it, according to the newspaper, which claimed to have seen it. In its issue published on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, the newspaper spoke of another 'war,' not apparent, in addition to the escalating diplomatic crisis, taking place in the virtual world, based on the document leaked from the corridors of the French intelligence's cybercrime fighting services. This marks the latest escalation from the French side, after months of an undeclared truce, during which French politicians, led by Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, refrained from delving into the current diplomatic and political crisis. The document issued by the 'French Service for Vigilance and Protection against Foreign Digital Interference' claims that an army of fake Algerian accounts is waging an anti-France campaign on social media platforms to manipulate public opinion and tarnish the reputation of the French government. It also claims that these accounts publish 'the exact same content at the exact same time or within minutes.' The document, which attempted to provide some details, based on what 'Le Canard Enchaîné' reported, speaks of the creation of 4652 online posts and 55 YouTube videos about an alleged conspiracy by the French Directorate-General for External Security against Algeria within just twenty days in December 2024, as well as targeting some French brands, such as the cheese brand 'La Vache qui rit,' the automotive giant 'Peugeot,' and the famous brand 'Lacoste' specializing in clothing. In a serious escalation that indicates that the warming of bilateral relations is not as close as some portray it, the French Service for Vigilance and Protection against Foreign Digital Interference accuses Algerian sovereign entities, which confirms that the French authorities are trying to hide behind media leaks in order to provoke Algeria, and then hide behind freedom of expression, as they market their justifications every time. The document leaked by 'Le Canard Enchaîné' comes at a time when the French authorities are experiencing a state of frustration due to the failure of all their maneuvers aimed at dissuading the Algerian authorities from some of their sovereign positions, especially regarding the continued imprisonment of the Franco-Algerian writer, Boualem Sansal, and the sports journalist, Christophe Galtier, a dilemma that has exhausted the Paris authorities and put them before difficult challenges in front of French public opinion. It is not unlikely that this incident will pass without a firm Algerian response, for which the appropriate time will be chosen, because the document was issued by a sovereign entity, and it reveals how a highly sensitive French institution views Algeria. Moreover, the existence of such a belief means that the victim party, if it can be said, will respond in its own way, and this indicates that there are signs of an impending escalation on the Algiers-Paris axis, which remains hostage to the repercussions of the ill-considered decision taken by French President Emmanuel Macron last summer, by engaging in support for the so-called autonomy plan in Western Sahara, which was presented by the Moroccan regime in 2007.
