France Slashes Visas for North African Nations Amid Diplomatic Tensions with Algeria

Last Wednesday, France decided to tighten the granting of visas for Moroccans, Algerians and Tunisians on the grounds that these three countries refuse to issue the necessary consular laissez-passer for the return of their nationals expelled from France. At the Élysée, they whisper that the tensions between Algiers and Paris are the real reason for this decision.

"It’s not Morocco that’s bothering, even less Tunisia," comments an old hand in French foreign policy. "The problem is Algeria and its thousands of illegal immigrants who, once they have crossed the Strait of Gibraltar, join France where they constitute the first Maghreb community with more than 3 million declared people."

According to other sources, President Emmanuel Macron is trying to broaden his right-wing electorate through this decision, as immigration is an issue that allows the president of the National Rally (RN) to increase her rating. "The French government made this announcement on the same day that Marine Le Pen announced her referendum on immigration," notes journalist Anne Bourse.