Ségolène Royal, President of the France-Algeria Association and former socialist presidential candidate, has shed light on her recent visit to Algeria and her role in reviving Algerian-French dialogue, which had been stalled for nearly two years. Speaking to Radio Sud FM, Royal described the current state of Algerian-French relations as slowly improving, emphasizing her proactive engagement as president of the France-Algeria Association to re-establish communication channels between officials of both nations.
Algeria France diplomatic relations dialogue
Royal recounted a meeting with French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, held at his request upon her return from Algeria. During a private, hour-long discussion, she briefed him on the visit's outcomes and advised against imposing preconditions for engagement. This advice came after Darmanin had previously stated conditions for a visit, including the release of French sports journalist Christophe Gélise and the resumption of deportations for undocumented Algerians in France. These remarks had led to Algeria's disengagement from the proposed visit, which originated from Paris.
Royal's visit to Algiers saw her cautioning the French side against missing the opportunity to revitalize bilateral ties, stressing the importance of the Interior Minister's visit without prior conditions. She remarked, "The Interior Minister must go there, to Algeria, and he has been awaited for some time, without setting prior conditions, because all Interior Ministers in France hide behind that."
She further elaborated to Sud FM, "If you need Algeria to revive partnership relations, you must go. If you want to set prior conditions, there's no need to go. Does France accept conditions being set before its visits?" Royal also shared her meeting with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who welcomed Darmanin's potential visit provided no preconditions were set, a stance Royal found natural for a sovereign nation.
Royal also addressed what she perceives as racism from some French politicians, specifically former Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau and the far-right, towards Algerians and North Africans. She argued that their focus on a few negative elements ignores the significant positive contributions of Algerians to France, citing the example of 6,000 Algerian doctors working in French hospitals. She stressed the need for a changed perspective, highlighting the "great achievements" she witnessed in Algeria, including visits to artificial intelligence schools, factories, and successful enterprises.
Furthermore, Royal criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for failing to adequately address the historical memory file. She recalled Macron's 2017 campaign promises regarding the colonial era, including labeling colonialism a crime against humanity and advocating for the return of cultural property. "France must apologize to Algeria," Royal stated, asserting that Macron has not offered even a "half-apology." She questioned the lack of progress over the past decade, describing Macron's current stance as a failure to commit, a lack of appreciation, and a display of neo-colonial contempt. She attributed the recent shift in diplomatic dynamics, evidenced by the Franco-African summit being held in Kenya instead of a Francophone nation, to a rejection by African leaders of French paternalism, urging France to establish equitable relations based on respect with its former colonies.
Related topics: Algeria France relations, Ségolène Royal, diplomatic dialogue, colonial history, French Interior Minister, Abdelmadjid Tebboune
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