Report: France’s Complex Relationship with Algeria, Macron’s Recent Remarks

French President Emmanuel Macron is under attack from politicians and citizens of Algeria, following comments he made about the latest reformation of the actual history of the Northern African nation.

Despite the fact that France's latest movements to mend relations are part of a broader effort by different French administrations to address criticism of France’s history in Africa, it occupied countries including Ivory Coast, Senegal, Mali, and Algeria for decades, French President Emmanuel Macron's recent remarks about Algeria's history have pitted France against several Algerians inside and outside the European country.

In fact, the long-time conflict worsened after Macron remarks at a meeting with 18 young people of Algerian origin at the Elysée Palace last week to try to heal the wounds in France arising from the Algerian war of independence that have persisted for generations.

Speaking to Algerian youth at the Elysée, Macron criticized what he called the Algerian state’s “rewriting of history” based not on facts but on discourse that depended on “hatred of France”.

The speech, and Macron’s pronouncements after this meeting, have infuriated many Algerians, with the government and Algerian politician parties taking the lead in denouncing the French President's offensive attitudes.

Relations also have been already strained over Paris’s decision last week to slash the number of visas granted to Algerians, with France blaming the decision on the refusal of Algeria to take back illegal migrants to be repatriated by French authorities.

In response to these issues, Algeria has closed its airspace to French military planes supporting the campaign against Islamist insurgents in the Sahel, the latest phase of a worsening row between the North African country and the former colonial power.

In addition to this, the Algerian foreign ministry summoned France’s ambassador last week to protest against the visa decision.

Over time, relations between the two Mediterranean nations have suffered, as the tensions between Algerians and the French have increased.

Also in this regard, the actual history of the Algeria dispute sparked a critical discussion about the French administration's complacency regarding relations with Algerian immigrants and responses to their concerns.

In the 1960s, Algeria experienced a high level of dependency on France after its successful revolution against French occupation and a conflicting desire to be free of that dependency.

Later, this benevolent relationship was altered in the early Boumediène years when the Algerian government assumed control of French-owned petroleum extraction and pipeline interests and nationalized industrial and energy enterprises.

At that time, French military equipment was almost immediately pulled out as well as the French army and troops withdrew from Algeria; moreover, Algeria declared independence.

In conclusion, France and Algeria have significant political and economic ties. However, their relationship is complex with huge sensitivities arising from their shared history which periodically flare up into diplomatic rows.