Confusion in Algeria over the imposition of trade sanctions on France

The Algerian government denied, Thursday, November 7, the existence of trade sanctions which would have been decided against France in the wake of its pro-Moroccan diplomatic turn on the Western Sahara issue. “The Prime Minister’s communications unit wishes to provide a categorical denial of this erroneous and totally unfounded information”indicates a press release published by the official press agency APS, citing by name the former French ambassador to Algiers Xavier Driencourt as being at the origin of such “false allegations”.

The retired French diplomat, who does not hide his criticisms against the Algerian regime, reported, Wednesday, on the social network two countries, following the recent recognition by Emmanuel Macron of the “Moroccan sovereignty” on Western Sahara. The French president solemnly confirmed this pro-Moroccan turnaround during his state visit to Morocco, from October 28 to 30.

On the Algerian side, the reaction to France's change of footing in this issue initially seemed minimalist. Absorbed by the campaign for the presidential election of September 7, which led to the re-election of Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the authorities in Algiers waited until the electoral mortgage was lifted before deciding on their response. They also wanted to observe the way in which Emmanuel Macron's state visit to Morocco could take place. The sumptuous staging of Franco-Moroccan reconciliation, in particular the ovation received by the French president in Parliament in Rabat, aroused their annoyance.

“Delusional injunction”

The Algerian denial of the adoption of trade sanctions against Paris expresses an obvious embarrassment in the corridors of power. A meeting did take place on Tuesday at the headquarters of the Professional Association of Banks and Financial Institutions (ABEF) in Algiers, during which informal instructions were given to managers of Algerian public and foreign private banks – some of which French authorities – to no longer process domiciliations for imports and exports from and to France.

This decision seems to have given rise to a standoff within the Algerian government. The ABEF, which has association status, does not legally have the right to give directives to the banks, which are placed under the supervision of the Central Bank of Algeria. The Algerian authorities, however, had de facto made it play this role, in June 2022, after the decision of the head of the Spanish government, Pedro Sanchez, to align with Morocco over the question of Western Sahara. On this occasion, the ABEF notified public and private banks to no longer domicile commercial operations with Spain. The measure was then deemed counterproductive by Algerian economic operators: without political impact on the question of Western Sahara, it mainly inflicted losses on Algerian companies working with Spain.

You have 46.58% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.