The challenges of Emmanuel Macron's visit to Algeria

In just over a week, Emmanuel Macron will travel to Algeria to meet Abdelmadjid Tebboune there. A second trip to Algiers which is of capital importance.

If the information is not yet official, Emmanuel Macron will go to Algeria. The round trip should take place over two days, on August 25 and 26, according to The Opinion, which indicates that the North Africa and Middle East adviser to the Elysée, Patrick Durel, will go alone, initially, on the spot to prepare the next meeting between the French president and his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune, in the origin of the invitation sent to Emmanuel Macron.

For his visit, Emmanuel Macron should be accompanied by several ministers, including the new Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna. Last December, his predecessor, Jean-Yves Le Drian, went to Algeria to try to reconcile Paris and Algiers, after several months of diplomatic tensions, in particular due to questions of memory.

Algiers at the center of the energy chessboard

Among Emmanuel Macron's companions would also be the rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, Chems-Eddine Hafiz, as well as the Chief Rabbi of France Haïm Korsia.

But beyond the courtesy that will necessarily be required, the reunion between Macron and Tebboune has major stakes. The first obviously concerns, indirectly, the conflict in Ukraine. Since Russia entered into hostilities with kyiv, the energy crisis has threatened Europe.

In April, the head of Algerian diplomacy, Ramtane Lamamra, had gone to Moscow and showed Algeria's commitment to resolving the conflict. But above all, Algiers quickly positioned itself at the center of the energy battle, Europe having turned, little by little, to Algeria in an attempt to compensate for its energy deficit.

In addition to economic issues, it will inevitably be a question of African issues, like Libya, faced with an unprecedented political blockage, or even the Sahel, or even Mali, with which Algiers maintains good relations.

The errors of Paris in terms of visas

But the number one issue is undoubtedly the warming of relations between France and Algeria. On Algerian soil, it will certainly be up to Emmanuel Macron to take a first step towards his counterpart. "Algeria intends not to be considered under the vision of a simple market and that it is necessary to promote a win-win partnership, writes university professor Abderrahmane Mebtoul. And it is within this framework that cooperation between Algeria and France must fit, far from any prejudice and spirit of domination”.

In a column published on August 7 in Le Figaro, former French President François Hollande advocates "a relaunch of the partnership with the Maghreb". "At a time when international upheavals and in particular the war in Ukraine are relentlessly affecting the world economy, causing a general rise in prices which are weighing on the standard of living of populations on both sides of the Mediterranean, we need more than ever to deepen this relationship and give it back its full meaning, that of solidarity and action,” writes the former president.

And it is, according to François Hollande, to Emmanuel Macron to "show his availability". The former president recalls that Macron's decision to reduce the visa quotas allocated to North African nationals was risky. It will certainly be a question, on August 25 and 26, of the migration question. If Paris wants to take advantage of the economic opportunities offered by Algeria, France will have to let go of some ballast. And agree to do a mea culpa.