FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and French President Emmanuel Macron have agreed to immediately resume security and migration cooperation, following a phone conversation on Monday.
The leaders discussed bilateral ties and recent tensions, reaffirming their commitment to the dialogue initiated in August 2022, according to a statement from the Algerian Presidency.
The two countries will reactivate the Joint Commission of Historians, established in 2022 to address the “memory issue” stemming from France’s colonial rule in Algeria from 1830 to 1962. The commission is expected to present its findings and proposals by summer. Bilateral judicial cooperation will also resume, with French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin set to visit Algeria soon.
Macron reiterated France’s support for revising the Algeria-EU partnership agreement, which Algeria has criticized as favoring European interests. He also urged Tebboune to pardon French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, citing his age and health.
The conversation comes amid strained relations over immigration policies, historical grievances, and France’s stance on Western Sahara. Algeria has called for France to acknowledge crimes committed during its colonial rule, a step seen as crucial for improving ties.