France dumps Morocco in favour of Algeria
Europe needs the gas
How the tables have turned. Just over a year ago, France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, dismissed Algeria, France’s troubled former colony, as a spent regime and cut the number of visas issued to its citizens. Algeria huffily recalled its ambassador and banned France’s air force from its skies. Since then, however, France has eagerly sought a rapprochement. On January 23rd Mr Macron hosted General Saïd Chengriha, Algeria’s top general, the most powerful man in the land. A large French delegation followed him back to Algeria. There is “an exceptional dynamic”, says a diplomat who helped organise it.
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This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “Switching sides”
Middle East & Africa
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- France dumps Morocco in favour of Algeria

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