Algiers – The recent release of Algerian writer Boualem Sansal offers a ‘ray of hope’ for improved relations between Algeria and France, according to French historian Benjamin Stora. However, Stora cautions that this single act is insufficient to fully thaw the frosty relationship between the two nations.
Speaking to the French newspaper Libération, Stora emphasized that mending the Algerian-French relationship will be a long and complex process. He stated that it necessitates addressing a multitude of political, economic, and security issues, including the sensitive and unresolved matters surrounding the colonial past that continue to strain relations between Algiers and Paris.
Stora noted that the appointment of Laurent Nunez to the French Ministry of the Interior has contributed to a slight de-escalation, citing Nunez’s ‘less abrasive’ approach compared to his predecessor. He also revealed that French diplomacy has quietly pursued a ‘German track,’ leveraging Germany’s role as a mediator in certain economic matters, particularly concerning customs duties and gas imports.
According to Stora, German involvement was crucial to maintain a minimum level of dialogue between Algeria and the European Union during a period of strained Algerian-French relations.
While welcoming Sansal’s release, Stora stressed that the path to normalization remains long. He highlighted several sensitive issues that impede progress, including the case of French journalist Christophe Glayze, France’s position on the Western Sahara issue, cooperation on migration matters, and the security situation in the Sahel region.
Regarding the shared historical memory, Stora called for continued efforts to ‘document historical truth’ and acknowledge the crimes of torture and the realities of colonialism, warning that the rise of the far-right in France could jeopardize this process. He further disclosed that his recent meeting with Algerian historians in Marseille was part of a program granting Algerian researchers access to French archives, despite the existing political tensions.
Stora concluded by reiterating that Sansal’s release ‘provides important breathing room’ for continued work on the memory file.
