Overview

• Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has proposed terminating the 1968 Franco-Algerian accord, which grants Algerians unique immigration privileges in France, calling it outdated and problematic.
• The agreement allows Algerians to enter France without a long-stay visa, work independently, and obtain long-term residency more easily compared to other nationalities.
• Retailleau's stance follows diplomatic tensions, including Algeria's refusal to accept an expelled influencer and the imprisonment of Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal.
• Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin criticized Retailleau's approach, emphasizing the need for diplomatic solutions and warning against punitive measures.
• The proposal has reignited broader debates on France-Algeria relations, which have been strained by historical ties, recent policy shifts, and escalating rhetoric on both sides.