Middle East & Africa | A jilted mistress

France dumps Morocco in favour of Algeria

Europe needs the gas

SHARM EL SHEIKH, EGYPT - NOVEMBER 07: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY - MANDATORY CREDIT - "ALGERIAN PRESIDENCY / HANDOUT" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (L) and French President Emmanuel Macron (L) meet during the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly known as COP27, at the Sharm El Sheikh International Convention Centre, in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt on November 07, 2022. (Photo by Presidency of Algeria / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Algérie, mon amourImage: Getty Images

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”

From the February 4th 2023 edition

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