Algerian President and his French counterpart agree to immediately resume cooperation on security and migration.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and French President Emmanuel Macron announced in a phone call on Monday that they had agreed to immediately resume security cooperation between the two countries.

They stressed the need for the immediate resumption of reliable, smooth, and effective cooperation on migration, following months of a crisis between the two countries.

A statement issued by the Algerian presidency explained that the two presidents, during a phone call between Macron and Tebboune, spoke at length, frankly, and cordially about the state of bilateral relations and the tensions that have accumulated in recent months

He added that they renewed their desire to resume the fruitful dialogue they established through the Algiers Declaration, issued in August 2022, which led to significant progress in the field of memory, particularly through the establishment of the Joint Committee of French and Algerian Historians, the return of the remains of resistance martyrs, and the recognition of responsibility for the killing of martyrs Ali Boumendjel and Larbi Ben M’hidi.

He pointed out that Tebboune and Macron agreed that the strength of the ties, particularly the humanitarian ties, that unite Algeria and France, the strategic and security interests of the two countries, as well as the challenges and crises facing Europe and the Mediterranean-Africa basin, are all factors that require a return to an equal dialogue between the two countries, as they are key partners and players in Europe and Africa.

The Algerian presidency affirmed that in order to accelerate the ambitious character that the two countries’ leaders wish to give to the relationship between France and Algeria.

The French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot will visit Algeria on April 6 at the invitation of his counterpart, Ahmed Attaf, as this visit will provide an opportunity to define the details of this ambitious work program, its implementation details, and its timetable.

In this way, it will become clear that the shared ambition for a relationship characterized by optimism, calm, and respect for the interests of both parties will lead to tangible results.

Macron informed his counterpart Tebboune of France’s support for reviewing the partnership agreement between Algeria and the European Union, and the two presidents agree in principle to hold a meeting in the near future.

The Joint Committee of Historians was decided to resume its work immediately and will meet soon in France, with the outcomes of its work and concrete proposals to be submitted to the two heads of state before the summer of 2025.

The two presidents stressed the importance of developing economic cooperation between the two countries in future areas, pledging to work to enhance trade and investment while taking into account the interests of both countries.

Algerian-French relations became strained after France announced in July 2024 its support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara.

The dispute between the two sides escalated with the arrest of the French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal in Algeria, and the issue of the repatriation of Algerians subject to deportation orders from France further exacerbated tensions.