BY: Dr. Hana Saada
Algiers, Algeria | October 8th, 2024 — Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has made a strong defense of Algeria, cautioning against attempts to scapegoat the North African country in France’s ongoing immigration debate. Speaking in an interview on FranceInfo, de Villepin addressed the controversy surrounding the 1968 Franco-Algerian agreements, which have become central to discussions about France’s immigration policies.
During the “8h30 FranceInfo” program, de Villepin underscored the deep and historic ties between France and Algeria, referring to Algeria as a “sisterly and friendly nation.” He criticized recent remarks from Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, characterizing them as part of a “crusade against Algerians.” Darmanin has called for revisiting the 1968 agreements, which were established to facilitate the immigration of Algerian nationals to France. These agreements, rooted in the post-colonial Evian Accords, have drawn increasing scrutiny from political figures like Michel Barnier, who advocate for tighter immigration controls.
In his rebuttal, de Villepin stressed the symbolic weight of the 1968 accords, stating, “To bring up the 1968 agreements today, which are closely tied to the Evian Accords, is to provoke a war of memories with Algeria. All of this is absurd, and there are better paths to explore.” He expressed concern over the deteriorating state of Franco-Algerian relations, which, according to him, have worsened over recent years. De Villepin argued that blaming Algeria for France’s immigration challenges is misguided, insisting, “Algeria should not be made to bear the burden of these issues. We need to find solutions with Algeria, not against it.”
De Villepin also highlighted the diplomatic tension that followed the cancellation of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s scheduled visit to France, stressing the importance of re-establishing dialogue between the two nations. He further called for cooperative efforts to address the situation of Algerian detainees in French administrative detention centers.
In addition to discussing the Franco-Algerian relationship, de Villepin criticized France’s stance on Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, suggesting that Paris had adopted a misguided position on the issue.
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