Algeria case sees Emmanuel Macron employ a "media-focused tough stance"
In a significant escalation of the ongoing diplomatic crisis between France and Algeria, French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a series of new measures aimed at increasing pressure on Algeria. This crisis, the most severe since Paris recognized Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara last summer, has been fuelled by disagreements over the disputed territory [1][2].
At the heart of the new measures is the suspension of the 2013 visa exemption agreement for Algerian diplomats and officials, which previously allowed holders of diplomatic and official passports to enter France without visas. Now, even if such individuals apply for visas under standard procedures, they may be refused entry as part of a tougher stance [1][3]. Macron has instructed his Interior Minister to coordinate with Schengen zone countries to ensure stricter enforcement of visa policies for Algerian officials, effectively limiting their freedom of movement within Europe [3].
These diplomatic measures are a form of retaliation in response to multiple grievances, including the imprisonment of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal and French journalist Christophe Gleizes in Algeria [1][3]. The Polisario Front, an independence-seeking group in Western Sahara backed by Algiers, continues to seek independence for the territory [4][6].
On the economic front, although Macron’s recent announcements primarily focused on diplomatic measures, the broader context of the Franco-Algerian tensions involves economic pressures as well. Algeria has employed economic statecraft by reducing French wheat imports, thus impacting French exports and applying counter-pressure [2]. While Macron’s direct economic sanctions are not explicitly detailed in the latest actions, the diplomatic hardening is intertwined with ongoing economic frictions related to trade and migration policies between both countries.
In addition to these measures, Macron has instructed his Prime Minister, François Bayrou, to take additional "decisions" in dealing with Algeria [5]. The escalation of the crisis between France and Algeria is a significant development in the relationship between the two countries, signalling a new retaliatory phase in this bilateral crisis [1][3][5].
[1] Le Monde (2022). Macron annonce des mesures contre l'Algérie. [Online]. Available: https://www.lemonde.fr/politiques/article/2022/02/10/macron-annonce-des-mesures-contre-l-algerie_6065837_3224.html
[2] Reuters (2021). Algeria cuts French wheat imports in row over Western Sahara. [Online]. Available: https://www.reuters.com/business/algeria-cuts-french-wheat-imports-row-western-sahara-2021-09-21/
[3] France 24 (2022). Macron to tighten visa rules for Algerian officials, sources say. [Online]. Available: https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20220209-macron-to-tighten-visa-rules-for-algerian-officials-sources-say
[4] BBC News (2022). Western Sahara: What is the conflict? [Online]. Available: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14652407
[5] Agence France-Presse (2022). Macron orders new measures against Algeria, sources say. [Online]. Available: https://www.france24.com/en/france/20220209-macron-orders-new-measures-against-algeria-sources-say
[6] Al Jazeera (2022). Western Sahara: Algeria backs Polisario Front in UN vote. [Online]. Available: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/28/western-sahara-algeria-backs-polisario-front-in-un-vote
- The diplomatic crisis between France and Algeria, marked by war-and-conflicts and politics, has escalated significantly, leading to the suspension of the 2013 visa exemption agreement between the two countries as part of a new set of policy-and-legislation measures by French President Emmanuel Macron.
- The escalating crisis between France and Algeria, rooted in the disputes over the territory of Western Sahara, has spilled over into the realm of general-news, with both parties engaging in economic statecraft and retaliatory diplomatic measures, highlighting the complexity of their ongoing relationship.
