Algeria-France Tensions Rise Amid Claims of Moroccan Influence

"The French Interior Minister seems determined to engage in a power struggle with Algiers. However, beyond the criticisms he may make against the Algerian government, it is the pace of his attacks and the form they take that raise questions. All the French media keep coming back to this crisis by constantly attacking Algeria without restraint. For the average French person, all security and migration problems are now confused with Algerians. There are no more nuances. The shortcuts between dictatorship, Islamism, terrorism, delinquency with Algeria... have become legion, though ridiculous," said Soufiane Djilali in an interview with TSA Algérie.

Bruno Retailleau is not the only French political figure to publicly attack Algeria, Djilali notes, noting that "this attitude does not indicate a willingness to solve objective problems between two partners, but rather an arm wrestling match to force an adversary to yield." This hostile posture of France towards Algeria can have unfortunate consequences for "the Algerians of France, the overwhelming majority of whom are in a regular situation and behave with dignity," and who "suddenly find themselves accused," he said.

In the opinion of the president of Jil Jadid, "there seems to be a bundle of reasons that have made Algeria targeted by various lobbies and pressure groups. [...] At the geopolitical level, France has found itself at odds between Morocco’s demands for recognition of its occupation of Western Sahara and on the other hand its loss of markets in Algeria. There is clearly a frustration. By sacrificing the relationship with Algeria and designating it as the source of the problems in his country, Mr. Retailleau and his friends want to recover the votes of the far right and consolidate France’s position in Morocco at the expense of Algeria."

Soufiane Djilali also highlighted the difference in media treatment of issues concerning Morocco and Algeria in France. "There are almost as many Moroccans as Algerians in France. Their socio-economic and integration difficulties overlap. Moreover, in France, we talk about Maghrebis considering them to be of the same origin. However, the media treatment is not the same. For example, when there were the terrorist attacks of the Bataclan with at least 129 dead and nearly 400 wounded, there was no accusation against the Moroccan state. The Moroccan origin of the terrorists is barely mentioned," he noted.

And to continue: "Now compare that to the hysterical reaction against an Algerian YouTuber. He had probably addressed a fellow Algerian too brutally, but he did not endanger anyone and did not commit any criminal act against France. The media literally lynched him and attacked the Algerian government, accusing it of a conspiracy!" Faced with these situations, "Algeria must act with a lot of composure. Its relations with France are important but its dignity, its diaspora and its national interests must be protected," Djilali advised, calling for a normalization of relations between Algiers and Paris. "Now, if the vicissitudes of history cause a more serious rift, then Algeria will look to other horizons."