Nawar Samad

On 1 November 2024, in conjunction with the 70th anniversary of the launch of the Algerian War, French President Emmanuel Macron took the bold step of admitting the responsibility of French soldiers for the assassination of Algerian activist Larbi Ben M’hidi. Macron’s acknowledgment is part of an attempt to reduce tensions between Algeria and France, following a deterioration in bilateral relations that culminated in France’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara on 30 July 2024. This recognition provoked outrage in Algiers and prompted it to re-evaluate its relationship with Paris. Despite the importance of this historic admission, the future of Algerian-French relations remains subject to several factors, including colonial memory, geostrategic interests in North Africa, and shared economic and security challenges.

Can Algerian-French Relations Overcome their Current Rifts?

Macron’s Admission:

Karam Saeed‏‏

The Algerian presidential elections are set for September 7, 2024, with three candidates from diverse political backgrounds competing: President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, representing the current administration; Abdelaali Hassani, leader of the Islamist Hams Movement, advocating a pragmatic political approach that has helped him overcome the negative image of political Islam following Algeria's "Black Decade"; and Youcef Aouchiche, from the Socialist Forces Front, which traditionally participates in elections to maintain a presence in the political landscape and seeks to gain power in the future. The candidates are focusing on pressing issues critical to Algerian society, which require decisive and innovative solutions to address the country's domestic crises.

What Algerian Presidential Candidates Highlight in their Campaigns

Ten Issues:

Dr. Ahmed Askar‏‏

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently invited Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to visit Moscow from 13 to 17 June 2023. During the visit, the two discussed pathways for strengthening bilateral relations. This visit is of particular importance because it had been postponed on multiple occasions due to the COVID-19 pandemic after it was initially announced in May 2020. The two sides signed various agreements and declared their intentions to expand their strategic partnership. The visit occurred amidst increasing global unrest and concerns about the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. As a result, Algeria could find itself subject to pressure from the US and West, which hope to discourage further development of Algerian-Russian ties during the coming period.

What Are the Dimensions of the Russian-Algerian Rapprochement?

A Strategic Partnership:

Mohamed Fawzy‏‏

When the Russian-Ukrainian war broke out on 24 February 2022, Algeria announced that it would adopt a foreign policy based on non-intervention in conflict. It accused certain elements, which it did not name, of trying to drag Algeria into the war in Ukraine and affirmed that its priority was to protect its own nationals abroad. In doing so, Algeria aims to pursue a policy approach that maintains equilibrium between different international alliances, especially given its strategic ties with various parties to the conflict—both the West (including the US and Europe) and Russia. It seems that in pursuing this approach Algeria has tried to hold onto its decades-old foreign policy, while also endeavoring to achieve strategic aims that serve its interests, rekindle various alliances, and maximize what the country stands to gain from the crisis.

Algeria

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