France’s relationship with Algeria is navigating turbulent waters. In what some observers see as a sign of diplomatic floundering, Paris is again resorting to “memory symbolism” in an attempt to mend frayed ties. The participation of the French ambassador to Algeria, Stéphane Romatet, in the commemoration of the October 17, 1961, massacre in Paris is viewed not merely as a humanitarian gesture or a remembrance of a painful past, but as an indicator of France’s attempts to salvage what it can after a series of crises with Algeria.
Paris appears to be the party attempting to send conciliatory signals. Algeria, however, seems content to maintain its established positions, carefully observing the actions and movements of the French side. These gestures, however, haven’t been met with fundamental shifts in French policy. The symbolic overtures remain, for now, unanswered calls.
Historically, Paris has relied on historical ties to navigate the Algerian landscape with relative ease. Recent developments, however, have demonstrated that it no longer holds all the cards. Regional balances have shifted, and Algeria, with its political, security, and economic assets, is now engaging with France not from a position of need, but as an equal. This marks a pivotal moment reshaping traditional power dynamics in the region.
This is the stance Algeria is taking, and this is what France is struggling against, presenting significant challenges for French foreign policy. Symbolic moves are masking French confusion.
According to Rachid Ben Aissa, a professor of political science, France’s symbolic moves do not conceal its predicament following the recognition of Morocco’s claim over the Western Sahara. In a statement to *Algeria Now*, Ben Aissa stated that the French ambassador’s presence, under direct instructions from President Emmanuel Macron, does not bring anything new to the substance of bilateral relations. Instead, it falls within the framework of a symbolic attempt to improve France’s image in the eyes of the Algerian public, following a crisis of confidence deepened by Paris’s policies toward regional issues, most notably its open support for the Moroccan project in the Western Sahara.
This assessment reflects a deep Algerian awareness of the trust deficit between the two sides and reinforces the conviction that France, despite its conciliatory attempts, still lacks the courage to correct its political course. Algeria views symbolic rhetoric as a temporary tactic, while expecting genuine positions from Paris that translate into an actual review of its policy toward core issues, primarily the Western Sahara issue.
Ben Aissa added that choosing the memory file to send a message of goodwill reflects the Élysée’s understanding of the deep divide between the two countries, noting that France resorts to the past whenever present-day dialogues become complicated. He considers that those who speak…
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