France and Algeria's 'special' relationship is being tested once again

The agreement also includes provisions for facilitating the acquisition of French citizenship for Algerians born in France who have resided there for more than 8 years and received education in French schools.

Furthermore, it grants preferential treatment in visas and residency to students, researchers, artists, writers, and individuals engaged in creative and authorship activities, provided they hold Algerian citizenship.

The calls for reconsideration have raised various questions about their objectives and timing, as well as the parties responsible for the escalation of Algerian-French relations. It remains to be seen how the official French government will address these concerns.

The hallmarks of the extreme right

Several factors contribute to the increasing threats targeting immigrants in France — particularly those from Algeria.

According to political science and international relations professor Nabar Suleiman, failed government policies and the rise of right-wing extremist parties known for their anti-immigration stance, especially towards immigrants from southern countries, play a significant role.

Suleiman emphasised that France is experiencing a historical shift where far-right alliances have gained influence over President Emmanuel Macron, resulting in a deterioration of Algerian-French relations.

He further argued that there is no significant disagreement between the French government and the far right – where the strongest pressure to revise the 1968 agreement and withdraw privileges granted to immigrants, such as residency and family reunification, comes from.

He pointed to statements made by far-right French politician Eric Zemmour, a former presidential candidate, who promised to review the agreement.

A violation of human rights

According to Suleiman, France has been attempting to handle the immigration issue independently through national legislation, disregarding outcomes within the European Union. This approach has been observed through visa restrictions and selective admissions. France has also implemented deportation laws, which are of great concern.

In September 2021, the spokesperson for the French government, Gabriel Attal, announced that France had tightened the conditions for granting entry visas to citizens of Morocco and Algeria by 50% and 30%, respectively.

He attributed this decision to the refusal of these countries to issue consular permits to facilitate the repatriation of their nationals legally residing in France.

He accused the governments of these countries of hindering the effectiveness of deportation operations from French territory and stated that discussions and warnings had been issued before implementing the measures.

Deportations

In early October of the same year, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin informed the French Parliament that French authorities had issued 7,731 deportation orders against Algerian nationals between January and July 2021, with 597 individuals detained. However, only 31 permits for repatriation were issued by Algerian consular authorities.

A previous report by the French National Assembly, released in January, revealed a significant reduction in the issuance of travel visas for Algerian nationals since Macron took office in 2017.

Read more: Is a visa to Europe becoming a modern-day indulgence?

The report highlighted a visa rejection rate of close to 50%. This suggests that the issue of repatriating irregular migrants may be a pretext, and the crisis extends beyond the immigration matter.

The report also indicated a decline in the number of individuals benefiting from travel visas to France, dropping from 412,000 visas in 2017 to 274,000 visas in 2019.

Algeria's position

Other questions arise, such as: What is Algeria's stance on amending the agreement? How will it deal with the issue? And what are the repercussions of the significant threat of right-wing extremism on Algerian immigrants in France?

Algeria's stance on amending the agreement between Algeria and France suggests that they are not opposed to the idea. However, it emphasises that any amendments should serve the interests of all parties involved and not favour one side over the other.

Algiers is concerned about the infringement of Algerian immigrants' rights residing in France — particularly given the prevalence of racist discourse in society that views this community negatively.

Read more: Dissecting France's race problem

During the fifth session of the high-level intergovernmental committee – which took place in Algeria in October, chaired by Prime Minister Ayman Abdelrahman and his French counterpart, Élisabeth Borne – both parties agreed to activate the bilateral technical team responsible for monitoring the migration agreement.

The aim is to finalise the fourth supplementary agreement in a timely manner. They also emphasised the importance of coordination in combating illegal migration while reaffirming their commitment to respect their relationship and adhere to the legal framework that regulates returns and re-entry.

The joint statement of the session affirmed the "enhancement of legitimate mobility between the two countries, which contributes to strengthening human, institutional, academic, scientific, cultural, and economic exchanges."

"It also contributes to the organisation of the movement of people and the means to ensure its continuity and deepening while respecting the bilateral legal framework that governs these matters, particularly through the implementation of the 2015 agreement related to the exchange of young workers."

What next?

Amid the persistent efforts of the political elite in Paris to revise the 1968 agreement and the potential adoption of a new immigration law that may not be favourable to Algerian immigrants, Professor Suleiman proposes the organisation of the Algerian community within a legal framework that protects their interests, while working in coordination with the Algerian state.

Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune has made the issue of Algerians in the diaspora one of the key focal points of his first presidential term and has proactively engaged with Algerians abroad during his foreign visits.

According to Engineer Abdelmalik Laour, the President of the Algerian Youth Forum, anti-immigration and anti-migrant rhetoric is primarily employed as electoral propaganda by certain individuals at specific times. They also utilise it as a means of exerting pressure on governing regimes.

However, this matter has become a source of contention. In an interview with Al Majalla, Laour said: "The issue is closed because Algeria insists on upholding the existing agreements concerning this matter, particularly the Evian Accords and the 1968 Agreement."

"These agreements cannot be disregarded when considering the historical context in which they were established. Algerians enjoy certain privileges compared to other immigrants, and France cannot absolve itself of its historical responsibilities."

Macron on the horns of a dilemma

Macron finds himself in a challenging position, torn between the far-right's abhorrent hostility towards foreigners, which includes criticism of the government's policies, and the pressing need to address the fluctuating situation and overcome the existing obstacles hindering a final resolution to the crisis between the two countries.

Moreover, France currently recognises the urgent importance of the Algerian community and other immigrant communities, as they constitute a significant factor in the economic and social fabric.

This acknowledgement was recently affirmed by French Minister of Labour, Olivier Dussopt, who stated that "certain economic sectors in France are dependent on immigrants."

This statement was made in response to opposition from the right wing, which rejected any provisions in the immigration bill aimed at granting legal status to workers in industries facing labour shortages.

The minister emphasised that "in professions such as restaurants or domestic work, approximately 25% of foreign workers originate from outside the European Union, in contrast to the national average of around 3%."

Regarding the failure to reach an agreement with the right wing to pass the proposed new immigration law, the minister stated, "A decision must be made whether to present the draft law or proceed without a text."

The new immigration law put forward by the French government focuses on two key aspects: the implementation of deportation operations and the enhancement of integration mechanisms.