President Macron to visit Algeria on August 25 in bid to reset ties

President Macron to visit Algeria on August 25 in bid to reset ties
August 20, 2022, 6:32 pm

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk walks next to French President Emmanuel Macron at the train station, in Kyiv, Ukraine, June 16, 2022. Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS

French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Algeria next week in a bid to improve strained ties between Paris and Algiers, 60 years after the country won its independence from France, the France24 reported.

The Élysée Palace said in a statement that Macron will visit Algeria from Thursday, August 25, to Saturday 27.

The presidency said after a call between Macron and his opposite number Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune: "This trip will contribute to deepening the bilateral relationship looking to the future ... to reinforce Franco-Algerian cooperation in the face of regional challenges and to continue the work of addressing the past.”

The visit to Algeria comes shortly after the country marked the 60th anniversary of its independence from France, according to the France24.

French-Algerian ties hit a low late last year after Macron reportedly questioned whether Algeria had existed as a nation before the French invasion and accused its "political-military system" of rewriting history and fomenting "hatred towards France".

Algeria withdrew its ambassador in response, but the two sides appear to have mended ties since.

The North African country won its independence from France following a gruelling eight-year war, which ended with the signing in March 1962 of the Evian Accords.

On July 5 of the same year, days after 99.72 percent voted for independence in a referendum, Algeria finally broke free from colonial rule – but memories of the 132-year occupation continue to haunt its ties with France.

President Macron tries to push back against Russian influence in Africa

Macron's trip will be his second official visit to the North African country, which holds close business ties with Paris.

Thanks to its large natural gas reserves, Algeria recently has also become a centre of attention for the European Union in its efforts to cut back imports from Russia.

Source: france24

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