France is seeking to reach a détente with Algeria by discussing the issues of the African Sahel and activating trade exchange 

After the political situation in Paris and Algiers stabilized, France intends to resume its efforts to improve relations with Algeria after tensions resulting from its position in supporting autonomy in the Western Sahara conflict, which Morocco presents as a solution at the expense of self-determination.

French President Emmanuel Macron succeeded in forming a right-wing government headed by Michel Barnier after difficulties that lasted for more than a month, and Algeria passed the presidential elections with a victory for President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, while France seeks to improve bilateral relations between the two countries, as Macron was the first among Western leaders to congratulate Tebboune on the occasion of his re-election, and two days ago he sent a veteran diplomat to Algeria, Anne-Claire Legendre, the president’s advisor for North African and Middle Eastern affairs, where the President of the Republic received her.

As a sign of the beginning of the thaw between the two countries, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune himself received her, which the Everything About Algeria newspaper considered to be the second contact in a few days at the level of the two countries’ presidency, and an indication of a breakthrough to overcome the crisis between the two countries.

The two countries didn’t reveal the content of the message carried by Anne-Claire Legendre, and she may have explained to President Tebboune France’s position on regional issues, most notably those of common interest, such as the African Sahel, where France is exploiting Algeria’s anger over the actions of the Wagner militias in Mali, and addressed France’s position on the Western Sahara conflict, and Paris is looking forward to Algeria’s understanding of its position in the Sahara.

Relations had entered a tunnel at the end of last July when President Macron announced that the Sahara conflict could only be resolved within the framework of the autonomy proposed by Morocco, and Algeria withdrew its ambassador from Paris because of this position.

France is concerned about the slow pace of trade between it and Algeria, which declined during the first half of this year compared to the same periods of the past three years.

Paris wants to stimulate trade to be a safety valve against the slippage in the diplomatic sphere that occurs from time to time.

France is keen not to lose the Algerian market to Türkiye, Russia, China, Italy and Germany, and Algeria is France’s second trading partner in Africa after Morocco.