Visiting Algiers for two days, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez will try to relaunch a bilateral dialogue damaged by months of tensions. Researcher Adlene Mohammedi deciphers for France 24 the issues of this visit and the conditions for possible appeasement between Paris and Algiers.

Published on: 02/16/2026 - 12:32 Modified on: 02/16/2026 - 15:29

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This is a crucial trip to Algiers. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez began a two-day visit to Algeria on Monday February 16 to improve diplomatic relations that have been damaged in recent months. Since France's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, a territory with an undefined status according to the UN - a conflict for 50 years has pitted Morocco against the separatists of the Polisario Front, supported by Algeria -, the rag has been burning between Paris and Algiers.

The points of tension have multiplied: kidnapping in France of an Algerian influencer opposing the regime of Abdelmadjid Tebboune in April 2024, arrest of the Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal in November 2024 – pardoned a year later by the Algerian president –, indictment of an Algerian consular agent in April 2025 in France, mutual expulsions of staff of the embassies or even the conviction of French journalist Christophe Gleizes in Algeria.

See alsoJournalist Christophe Gleizes “is a victim of the Franco-Algerian crisis”

For Adlene Mohammedi, researcher in geopolitics, expert associated with Ceri (Sciences Po) and teacher at the University of Paris 3 and Iris, Laurent Nunez's approach differs radically from that of his predecessor Bruno Retailleau.

France 24: How does Laurent Nunez present himself for this visit to Algeria?

Adlene Mohammedi: He is particularly cautious, especially since he succeeds a very offensive, even hostile, Minister of the Interior towards the Algerian government. The major difference is that Laurent Nunez is a security technician – former director of the DGSI, former coordinator of the fight against terrorism. He has no political ambition and does not engage in electoral politics. What interests him is the resumption of security dialogue, essential between the two countries since the 1990s.

How to qualify Laurent Nunez’s approach?

This is clearly a change in method compared to his predecessor Bruno Retailleau. Laurent Nunez does not have the same ambitions or the same profile. He wants results and wants to relaunch the security dialogue, which he considers essential. Beyond these questions, there is also the OQTF file, which concerns the entire Maghreb, and that of journalist Christophe Gleizes. He did not mention it publicly, because it is not up to the Minister of the Interior to activate consular protection, but this subject will probably be part of the discussions. The warming of relations between Paris and Algiers also involves the release of Christophe Gleizes.

To (re)readFrance-Algeria diplomatic crisis: in 2025, an irremediable shift?

Has Bruno Retailleau's firmness harmed the Franco-Algerian relationship?

What Laurent Nunez is currently doing clearly shows the failure of the Retailleau method. Firstly because talking about weakness and strength when it comes to a bilateral relationship is absolutely useless. Besides, he wasn't in his role at all. He was Minister of the Interior and dealt with diplomatic matters when he was not supposed to. He focused, like the French right, on the famous agreements of 1968 which are often wrongly considered as a kind of Algerian privilege. It is in reality an agreement which has rather regulated Algerian immigration since the 1960s.

Also read: Boualem Sansal pardoned by the Algerian president: disavowal of the Retailleau method

There, we can clearly see that this time, Laurent Nunez is not talking about it because he knows very well that it is useless. This changes absolutely nothing in relations between the two countries, including in terms of migratory flows. The difference between the two is that Mr. Retailleau wanted to play politics and wanted to show that the right knew how to be firm on certain diplomatic issues. Besides, Édouard Philippe does the same thing. He will insist in his campaign on the 1968 agreements. The French right has shown itself to be very weak, very deaf and very blind on everything that happened in the Middle East, on the humiliations suffered at the hands of the – supposed – American ally or even on the Ukrainian issue. Algeria ultimately remained the last issue where it could demonstrate firmness.

Can there be a real change in tone today?

On the Algerian side, there is an internal political aspect. There is a repressive system from which the French journalist Christophe Gleizes suffers since accusing him of advocating terrorism is absurd. We always left a door open from the start. First by making a clear distinction between the interlocutors, for example by showing that we could speak with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, but not with Mr. Retailleau. We also saw the rather warm welcome given to former minister Ségolène Royal. There is an open door because on both sides, there is no interest in there being a rupture.

Can we hope for lasting relaxation?

For now, there should be diplomatic signals. There is no Algerian ambassador in France and the French ambassador has been recalled to Paris. On the diplomatic level, we still have a fairly delicate situation. We still have crises which are sometimes based on details, such as the additional investigation which has sparked criticism from the Algerian side. Alongside these tensions, there is also an economic relationship that is being maintained. There is demographic intimacy between the two countries with millions of citizens who are affected by this Franco-Algerian relationship. It is not expendable. We're trying to correct things a little, to put the pieces back together.

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