Paris Takes First Step, But Lack of Response to Algerian Demands Threatens Official Visits

Significant developments in Algerian-French relations this weekend point towards a move by the French side to take the first step, as requested by Ségolène Royal, president of the “France-Algeria Association,” who visited Algeria at the end of last month.

The first of these steps is the anticipated visit of French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez on February 16 and 17, after weeks of delay.

The visit was revealed in a dispatch from Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Thursday, February 12, 2026. However, what was striking about this dispatch was the French side’s acknowledgement of Algerian demands related to the extradition of criminals. These demands, along with French demands, would be on the table for discussion—a notable shift from the French side, which had previously focused solely on French demands, which has further angered the Algerian side.

Algeria is demanding that France extradite approximately fifty individuals wanted for prosecution who are currently residing in France and against whom final court rulings have been issued. Among them is former Industry Minister Abdeslam Bouchouareb, who has been convicted in numerous corruption cases. However, the French judiciary refused his extradition last year, citing justifications that the Algerian side found unconvincing.

Meanwhile, French officials have continued to demand the release of French national Christophe Gleizes, who was sentenced to seven years in prison for supporting and praising terrorism. This blatant interference in the Algerian judicial system has angered both the prisoner and his family, who have expressed their strong disapproval of the French authorities’ politicisation of his case. They hope to find a political solution to his situation, according to Ségolène Royal, who visited him in El-Kolea prison (west of Algiers) after successfully mediating his transfer from Tizi Ouzou prison.

After several French officials, particularly Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez and Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, attempted to downplay the efforts of the head of the “France-Algeria Association” to ease tensions between the two countries and insisted that the visit was personal and did not represent French state institutions, the Quai d’Orsay finally acknowledged that the visit was “useful and timely,” according to the newspaper Le Monde in its Thursday, February 12th edition.

What’s also striking is that, more than two weeks after the broadcast of the French television program deemed unprofessional by French experts, the French Foreign Ministry broke its long silence to criticise those responsible for the program, according to the newspaper Le Monde. The newspaper reported that the Quai d’Orsay was surprised by the program’s focus on a controversial figure who had attacked a symbol of a sovereign institution in Algeria, according to diplomatic sources.

In a very belated move, the French Foreign Ministry criticised the participation of the French ambassador to Algeria, Stéphane Romatet, in the controversial television program, stating that it would “unintentionally undermine the image of de-escalation that French diplomacy is trying to project.”

For her part, Ségolène Royal plans to return to Algeria within a few weeks, at the invitation of the Minister of Culture, Malika Bendouda.

In its report, the newspaper discussed the role of Ségolène Royal’s visit to Algeria in influencing the French Interior Minister to proceed with his long-delayed visit, which had been postponed for weeks. He had initially attempted to impose preconditions, prompting Royal to strongly criticise him, saying, “When you set preconditions, you don’t want to go,” and addressing him directly, “You have to go; they are waiting for you.”

The report, based on statements by Ségolène Royal, revealed that the television program broadcast by France 2, which prompted Algeria to summon the French chargé d’affaires, was initiated under the former Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, who was known for his obsession with all things Algerian. This led Royal to decline participation, believing the program would be “biased.” She added, “This program deeply offended Algerians.” The report also indicated that Royal plans to return to Algeria within a few weeks.

These developments coincide with reports in the French media (La France Agricole) about Algeria signing contracts to purchase “a few thousand tons of French wheat and barley.” However, “these quantities remain limited and do not indicate a permanent return of the country to our markets, from which it has been absent since July 2024.” It should be noted that French industry professionals have repeatedly voiced their concerns, holding their country’s politicians responsible for the loss of a market considered strategic for them, given that Algeria was France’s leading customer in the grain sector, importing at least five million tons annually.