Algeria denied this Thursday, November 7, “erroneous and totally unfounded” information according to which it had decided on “restrictive” measures to trade with France, reacting to a statement by a former French ambassador to Algiers, Xavier Driencourt.
The Prime Minister’s communications unit provided “a categorical denial” of “totally erroneous information”, following “the false allegations peddled by the former French ambassador to Algiers, in his usual hateful delirium towards the Algeria, regarding alleged trade restrictive measures,” said an official statement published by state media.
The press release refers to a publication on from the former French ambassador to Algeria Xavier Driencourt who said: “to thank France, Algeria decides to block all French imports and exports to France. We are decidedly blind”.
Tensions between Algiers and Paris
Franco-Algerian trade showed an increase of 5.3% in 2023 over one year, standing at 11.8 billion euros compared to 11.2 billion euros in 2022. French exports to Algeria stood at 4.49 billion euros in 2023 while imports of Algerian goods into France reached 7.3 billion euros. In 2023, Algeria retained its place as the second destination market for French sales in Africa.
Relations between Algiers and Paris are currently going through a new phase of turbulence after the announcement at the end of July of Paris’ support for the Moroccan autonomy plan for the disputed territory of Western Sahara, support that French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated during from a recent visit to Rabat.
Algiers then announced the “immediate withdrawal” of its ambassador and reduced its diplomatic representation, keeping only one charge d’affaires. The head of Algerian diplomacy, Ahmed Attaf, indicated that other retaliatory measures would follow, without specifying which ones. Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, is de facto controlled mainly by Morocco. But it is claimed by the Sahrawi separatists of the Polisario Front who are demanding a self-determination referendum and are supported by Algiers.