The head of the French employers' organization "MEDIF", Patrick Martin, is visiting Algeria in a step that, although primarily of an economic nature, some believe carries within it political messages. This visit comes in the context of a political crisis that has affected relations between the two countries for years, and led to a decline in cooperation in several areas. Today, some view the economy as a means of reviving channels of dialogue and gradually rebuilding trust between Paris and Algeria.

Published on: 04/23/2026 - 16:05

At the invitation of the Algerian Economic Renewal Council (CREA), Patrick Martin, president of the French employers' organization "Medif", will visit Algeria on Thursday, according to what the organization announced on Tuesday.

It is the first visit by the head of the French Employers Association since the outbreak of the political and diplomatic crisis between the two countries, which led to disruption of dialogue and cooperation in several areas.

The visit of Patrick Martin, who is accompanied by the French co-president of the Algerian Business Council - the Frenchman Yannick Morillon - without the presence of any delegation from French companies, aims to reopen channels of dialogue with Algerian companies and launch new cooperation between the two countries in general, according to Camille Sari, a professor of economic sciences and a specialist in Maghreb economic integration.

It is expected that the head of the "MEDF" will meet with the heads of Algerian institutions, in addition to the directors of some Algerian chambers of commerce.

It will also seek to weave threads of "new cooperation" in the economic and industrial fields, according to what the French Employers' Organization reported in a statement.

"A step towards calming relations between the two countries"

It is worth noting that more than 4,000 French companies are active in Algeria, including major companies such as Total Energies and banks such as Société Générale and BNP.

Michel Bessac, president of the Algerian-French Chamber of Commerce (which includes about 2,500 companies, including 400 French companies), described the visit of the head of the “MEDF” as a “very positive step,” expressing his hope that it “will be fruitful” and will pave the way for a “natural resumption of economic relations” between the two countries.

Read also: France - Algeria: A French diplomatic delegation arrives in Algeria on a working visit

For his part, in a statement to France 24, Ibrahim Oummansour, researcher and director of the Maghreb Observatory at the Institute of International and Strategic Relations in Paris, described the visit of the head of the French employers to Algeria as “a step towards calming relations” and “a new will by the two countries to exit the policy of arm-twisting.”

He said: "There is an Algerian desire not to punish French companies and to separate trade and economics from politics, noting at the same time that many French companies were excluded from public tenders at the height of the crisis between the two countries at the expense of Italian, German or Chinese companies."

Is "Patrick Martin seeking to meet President Tebboune"?

Omansour continued: “Patrick Martin’s visit to Algeria came with the blessing of the Algerian state, which on the one hand wants to reassure foreign investors more and help Algerian companies invest abroad, on the other hand.”

He added: "The economic partnership can play a catalytic role in opening a new page in political and diplomatic relations. Of course, we have not yet reached this stage due to the depth of the crisis, but despite that, the visit of Interior Minister Laurent Nunez marked the beginning of a slight improvement in French-Algerian relations."

He concluded by saying: "We must wait for the results of the upcoming French presidential elections to really see how the relationship between the two countries will change and what direction it will take."

For his part, Camille Sarri, a professor of economic sciences and a specialist in Maghreb economic integration, confirmed in a statement to France 24 that, “In normal times, the French boss does not visit a country alone. Rather, he always takes with him more than 40 investors and directors of large companies. But this time it seems that he wants to meet President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and give a diplomatic character to his visit, with the aim of restoring channels of dialogue between the two countries and dispelling the differences.”

Political messages carried by the visit of the head of the French employers

Camille Sarri explained that the most important messages that Patrick Martin may bring to Algeria are expected to be the first: “We (meaning the employers) are not responsible for the political and diplomatic positions taken by the French state and we were not consulted,” and the second is “We do not agree with some French circles that are attacking Algeria (meaning the far-right circles) in an attempt to separate the economy from politics.”

Read also: France - Algeria: Ségolène Royal visits Algeria against the backdrop of new tension due to a French television program

Regarding the decline in the presence of French companies in Algeria, Sarri explains this by the decline of the industrial sector in France and the bankruptcy of a large number of small French companies since 2008.

Sari mentioned, for example, the international economic exhibition organized by Algeria in 2008, which recorded a record participation of French companies.

But today, according to this specialist: “Many of these companies have disappeared due to many crises, most notably the Covid-19 crisis.”

He concluded: "Algeria also wants to overcome the political crisis in order to enable its companies to invest in the French economy."

Numerous events, including the case of Boualem Sansal, fueled the conflict between Algeria and France

A year ago, the Algerian Economic Renewal Council (CREA) canceled a scheduled visit to the "Medif", in response to the cancellation of the head of the CMA-CGM group specializing in maritime transport, Rodolphe Saadeh, a meeting with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

The Algerian side explained the decision to cancel the visit that was supposed to be undertaken by Rodolphe Saadeh due to pressure from the French government. However, Rodolphe Saadeh was later received by Tebboune in June 2024.

Bilateral relations have deteriorated sharply since France's recognition, in the summer of 2024, of an autonomy plan "under Moroccan sovereignty" for Western Sahara.

The crisis then escalated with the arrest of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal in November 2024, followed in April 2025 by the filing of charges against an Algerian consular employee suspected of involvement in the kidnapping of the Algerian influencer Amir De Zad. In addition, the Algerian authorities imprisoned French journalist Christophe Gleize.

While the conflict between the two countries reached the point of mutual expulsion of diplomats and consular employees, in addition to the summoning of the French ambassador.

It is worth noting that France's exports to Algeria declined significantly, especially in the field of grains, milk, and building materials. While Algeria's economic exchanges with other countries have rebounded, such as Italy, Spain, Germany, and China. Will the economy fix what politics has ruined?

France 24

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