Diplomatic tensions between France and Algeria are deepening, triggered by a recent television report and centering on the contested Western Sahara region. Algeria has formally protested a segment aired Thursday on France 2’s “Complément d’enquête,” summoning the French embassy’s chargé d’affaires in response to what officials are calling a false and aggressive portrayal of the state. The dispute highlights a broader crisis in Franco-Algerian relations that began last summer with France’s backing of Morocco’s position on Western Sahara, a move Algeria views as a betrayal of decades-long diplomatic efforts.
Diplomatic relations between France and Algeria are again strained, sparked by a recent French television report examining the ongoing crisis between the two nations. The Algerian government has strongly protested the content of the report, summoning the French embassy’s chargé d’affaires on Saturday.
The dispute centers on a segment broadcast Thursday on “Complément d’enquête” on France 2, which focused on the current diplomatic tensions. Algerian officials have denounced the report as containing “tissue of falsehoods,” and characterized it as “a real aggression against the Algerian state, its institutions and its symbols.”
Tensions Rise Over Western Sahara
The Algerian Foreign Ministry specifically took issue with the participation of France’s ambassador to Algeria, Stéphane Romatet, in the program. Romatet is currently operating out of Paris after being recalled by French President Emmanuel Macron amid the persistent bilateral crisis that began in the summer of 2024.
During the segment, Romatet discussed Macron’s late July 2024 decision to back Morocco’s proposed autonomy plan for the disputed territory of Western Sahara. This move prompted Algeria to recall its ambassador from Paris in protest. Algeria supports the Polisario Front, which opposes Rabat’s claim to the region. The situation underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics in North Africa.
Chems-Eddine Hafiz, the rector of the Great Mosque of Paris and a close advisor to Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, stated in the broadcast that Paris’s support for Morocco regarding Western Sahara “put an end to the relationship” between the two heads of state. This statement highlights the severity of the rift between France and Algeria.
The escalating tensions signal a further deterioration in relations between the two countries, which have experienced a series of diplomatic setbacks in recent months. The dispute over Western Sahara remains a key point of contention.
