France Seeks to Reopen Dialogue with Algeria After Period of Diplomatic Tension
✍️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada
Algiers – October 2025 – The recent appointment of Laurent Nuñez as France’s new Minister of the Interior appears to signal the beginning of a potential recalibration in Paris’ approach toward Algiers, following a turbulent period marked by diplomatic friction and political provocations under his predecessor, Bruno Retailleau.
Retailleau’s tenure at the Hôtel de Beauvau left a deep scar on Algerian-French relations. His inflammatory rhetoric, coupled with politically motivated measures targeting Algeria and its citizens, brought bilateral relations to an unprecedented low point, straining decades of cooperation and mutual engagement.
Yet, Nuñez’s early remarks suggest a possible shift in tone. In an interview with several French media outlets on Sunday, the newly appointed minister declared his intention to “reopen dialogue” with Algeria, acknowledging that the absence of communication between the two countries has been detrimental—not only diplomatically, but also to France’s own national security interests.
“I understand that the current tension with Algeria means we no longer have any security exchanges with them. For a Minister of the Interior, that is a major problem,” Nuñez admitted, signaling a willingness to restore pragmatic collaboration. “At some point, we will need to resume dialogue with the Algerians on security and information-sharing issues,” he added, describing this step as essential to “renormalizing relations.”
Breaking with the confrontational posture of Retailleau, Nuñez struck a more measured and diplomatic tone. He cautiously avoided contentious topics, such as the handling of OQTF (obligations de quitter le territoire français), merely noting that “the resumption of the laissez-passer flow will have to happen. I will work on it,” while clarifying that he has not yet made contact with Algeria’s Minister of the Interior, Said Sayoud.
When asked about the 1968 Franco-Algerian agreement—a long-standing framework governing migration between the two nations—and recent parliamentary proposals to challenge its provisions, Nuñez distanced himself from any revisionist agenda. “There is an agreement; it works. It’s not perfect, I concede that, but for now, it’s not on the agenda,” he stated.
These remarks mark a notable departure from the antagonistic discourse of Retailleau, whose political ambitions toward the 2027 presidential race seemed to take precedence over France’s diplomatic and strategic interests. His approach, widely criticized in both Algiers and Paris, had deepened mistrust and disrupted critical channels of cooperation.
Nuñez’s stance, by contrast, reflects a more pragmatic understanding of the geopolitical landscape—one that recognizes Algeria’s growing regional influence and the necessity of rebuilding confidence. Whether this change in tone will evolve into a substantive rapprochement remains uncertain, but for now, Paris appears to be extending an olive branch, and Algiers, as always, is observing with measured restraint.
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