The shadow of a new “visa war” hangs over Franco-Algerian relations

For several weeks, the shadow of a new “visa war” has loomed over Franco-Algerian relations, which are experiencing a diplomatic crisis after several strong statements from French political leaders, which led Algeria to denounce the influence in France of a “revanchist extreme right”. “Every time there is a crisis between France and Algeria, the main retaliatory measure is immigration”recalls Serge Slama, professor of law at Grenoble-Alpes University.

Relations between the two countries deteriorated following the announcement by Paris, at the end of July, of support for the Moroccan autonomy plan in Western Sahara, a territory with undefined status at the UN and theater of a conflict for half a century between Morocco and the Sahrawi separatists of the Polisario Front, supported by Algiers. The quarrel grew with the detention in Algeria of the Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, then the arrest in France of several Algerian and Franco-Algerian influencers for advocating violence.

“I am in favor of strong measures, because without a balance of power, we will not succeed”launched, Sunday January 19, the French Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, who believes that the 1968 agreement setting the conditions of entry into France for Algerians – judged by Paris to be more favorable than for other nationalities – must be reviewed. For Mr. Retailleau, Algeria also does not issue enough consular passes, an essential document to return a person in an irregular situation in France to their country of origin.

However, in the current crisis, neither Algiers nor Paris have yet used the migratory weapon, already brandished countless times in the past. As in 2021, when France drastically reduced the number of visas granted to Algerians – as well as Moroccans and Tunisians –, believing that their leaders were already not making enough effort to readmit their nationals expelled from France. The measure had caused vexations and diplomatic quarrels between Paris and these former French colonies with a strong diaspora in France.

“To negotiate, it takes two”

For Farida Souiah, political scientist at EM Lyon Business School, the current controversy is part of “in more global dynamics”where many countries use migration issues as “diplomatic levers”. Like the United States, where the president, Donald Trump, has made this theme his hobby horse. If a new Franco-Algerian visa war occurs, it could “create an anxiety-provoking atmosphere”warns Serge Slama. Particularly for the 2.5 million to 3 million dual nationals or French people of Algerian origin living in France, who struggle to see their families.

“Already today, it’s the cross and the banner to get a visaobserves environmentalist senator Akli Mellouli. I don’t see what more you can strengthen. Or we say “zero visa”, but that will affect everyone. » The current political climate « risque » thus to create “the conditions for division and confrontation” between the Algerian diaspora and the rest of the population, warns the elected official of Algerian origin. The repeated criticisms against Algiers, which sometimes turn into invectives, particularly on the right and the extreme right, constitute, according to him, so many “signals” given “to those nostalgic, to the heirs of the OAS” (the Secret Armed Organization, which violently opposed the independence of Algeria).

According to a survey published in January, 71% of French people have a bad image of Algeria. And 61% of people surveyed say they are in favor of revoking the 1968 agreement. But for Serge Slama, ending this agreement is “totally unrealistic, because it would pose cascading legal problems”. “The only solution is to negotiate. But to negotiate it takes two”he said. In Algiers, where Paris accuses the authorities of playing on the “interest” of decolonization, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently estimated that “the vengeful and hateful extreme right as well as its certified heralds within the French government are leading a campaign of disinformation, even mystification, against Algeria”.

The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, estimated at the beginning of January that visas were part of the “levers that we could activate”. He then said he was ready to go to Algeria for discussions. The withdrawal of the 1968 agreement is not “not a miracle recipe”he admitted Monday. In mid-January, the French Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin, Mr. Retailleau’s predecessor in the interior, put forward another solution: ” DELETE “ the Franco-Algerian agreement of 2013, which allows Algerian elites to travel to France without a visa. But “if we do that, the Algerians will cut diplomatic passports for French diplomats”underlines Serge Slama.