Rabat – Paris is preparing to send the Algerian authorities a list of people to be excluded from France, in the hope that Algeria accepts the list and used as a step to heat bilateral relationships that have been tense up by migration problems.
AFP announced three state sources on Thursday that the list that contains “several dozen” names will soon be officially sent to Algeria. One source said that “this week” could happen while another suggested that it would happen “today or tomorrow”, and a third described the move as “immediately”.
“This is the first listInterior Minister Bruno Retailleau said on Wednesday on the RTL radio and found that it included a few dozen people.
The question of Algeria, which refused to accept nationals in an irregular immigration status, including the activity of a fatal attack in Mulhaus, France, on February 22, deepened the tensions that were already tense after France’s recognition of sovereignty in Morocco over the western Sahara last year.
The exclusion list currently appears much smaller than what Retailleau originally imagined, which contained several hundred names. However, additional lists can follow.
Retailleau met French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday in a “one -on -one interview”, said an official near the president. “We do many of their differences,” said the official and found that they agreed to the principle of the Algerians’ principle after a deportation order.
President Macron is interested in avoiding further tensions with Algeria about migration, and feared negative effects on other sensitive topics such as: B. the exchange of intelligence in the fight against terrorism.
Diplomatic warming is necessary, especially in the context of the cooperation of the fight against terrorism in the Sahel region, in which both countries work together to combat jihadism.
France has a legitimate interest in the stability of Algeria, the largest country of Africa, which is surrounded by neighboring states that face security challenges.
In addition, France is concerned about the potential return of Algerian or French-Algerian jihadists from Syria, a potential threat to national security. French diplomats recently found that the two countries were in the relationships in an “almost burning” state.
In response to this, President Macron tried to de -escalate tensions and urged an end to “speak through the press”. “It’s ridiculous; It never works that way, ”he said at the end of February.
This was a reaction to comments by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who had criticized the “toxic atmosphere” between the two countries in an interview with L’Obine. Tebboune emphasized the need to resume the dialogue, but he has conditioned this on Macron’s willingness to express the desire to do so.
Algerian media welcomed Macron’s “calming words” and complained of retailleaus further escalation of the situation.
The Élysée did not respond to the question of a potential direct dialogue between the two presidents.
This week, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot France’s wish to improve relationships with Algeria, explained: “Of course, France strives to have good relationships with Algeria, a neighboring country with which our ties are strong.” However, he added that “calm cannot be prescribed on one side”.
