Algeria on Wednesday welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron’s statement expressing regret over controversial remarks he made in October, when accused Algeria’s ruling system of inciting anti-French sentiments.
Macron’s office issued a statement on Tuesday stating that the President regrets “the controversies and misunderstandings generated” by the remarks he made about Algeria. Noting that Macron has the “greatest respect” for Algeria’s history and sovereignty, the statement read that Macron is “strongly attached to the development” of ties between Paris and Algiers. It added that, together, both countries could meet regional challenges, “starting with Libya.”
Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra said that Macron’s statement was “respectful” and it “contained reasonable ideas that respect Algeria, its history, past and present, and respect Algeria's sovereignty.”
Last month, Macron stirred up controversy when he questioned the existence of an Algerian nation before French colonisation. “The building of Algeria as a nation is a phenomenon worth watching. Was there an Algerian nation before French colonisation? That is the question,” he rhetorically asked.
He had also argued that Algeria’s ruling system had “rewritten history” to portray France in a bad light and foment anti-French hatred. Macron had noted that France was not the only coloniser of Algeria, adding that Turkey, too, had colonised the country, accusing Algeria of changing history to show France as the “only colonisers.”
Macron’s remarks sparked a diplomatic row between the two countries, with Algeria calling his comments “unacceptable” and an “insult to the memory” of millions of Algerians who sacrificed their lives fighting French colonialists. Algeria also recalled its ambassador to Paris and barred French military planes from using its airspace, which is used by France to conduct operations in West Africa.
Against this backdrop, the latest statement from Paris is an indication that France might be trying to calm relations with its former colony, especially as it prepares to host a high-level summit on Libya on Friday. The conference is aimed at ensuring that the Libyan parliamentary and presidential elections set for December go ahead as planned.
Last week, France invited Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and other high-ranking Algerian officials to attend the summit. While Lamamra confirmed on Wednesday that Algerian officials would attend the summit on Friday, the Algerian President has declined to attend.
President Tebboune said on Friday that he would not personally attend the conference but will send a representative to participate in the crucial meeting. He did not give any specific reason for not attending the summit.
Ties between France and Algeria have soured in the last few months, especially over Macron’s comments. In September, Paris reduced the number of visas issued to Algerian citizens, as the government refused to take back illegal immigrants deported from France.
However, Macron has tried to calm tensions between the two nations, especially as France sees Algeria as a gateway to its operations in West Africa and as a crucial partner in bringing stability to war-torn Libya. The French President has already pushed for greater transparency regarding France’s past with Algeria and in this respect, has called for a “truth commission” to report on the Algerian war of independence against France.
Algeria Welcomes Macron’s Statement Expressing Regret Over Controversial Remarks
Last month, Macron stirred up controversy when he questioned the existence of an Algerian nation before French colonisation.
November 11, 2021
Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra SOURCE: TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP