The first indication of a thaw in diplomatic relations came Tuesday when French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez visited Algiers and pledged to resume security cooperation.
Nuñez claimed that both parties had decided to “reactivate a high-level security cooperation mechanism” following their meeting with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
The visit was made against the backdrop of strained ties between France and its former colony, which have been strained since Paris formally supported Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara territory in 2024, where Algeria backs the Polisario Front, a group that advocates for independence.
Working sessions on Monday, according to Nuñez, were focused on “restoring normal security relations,” which includes collaboration in intelligence, policing, and legal matters.
He thanked the Algerian president for instructing his services to work with French authorities to “improve cooperation on readmissions.” Algeria has for months refused to take back its nationals living irregularly in France.
The renewed cooperation is expected to take effect “as quickly as possible” and continue “at a very high level,” Nuñez confirmed.
According to images released by Algerian authorities, the talks brought together senior security officials from both countries, including France’s domestic intelligence chief and Algeria’s head of internal security.
Invited by his counterpart Said Sayoud, Nuñez’s trip had been planned for months but repeatedly delayed.
Both sides have a backlog of issues to tackle. Before travelling, Nuñez said he intended to raise “all security issues,” including drug trafficking and counterterrorism.
Algeria plays a key role in the latter, sharing borders with junta-led Niger and Mali, both gripped by jihadist violence.
Ahead of the trip, Nuñez had also mentioned the case of Christophe Gleizes, a French sports journalist serving a seven-year sentence for “glorifying terrorism.”
It is unclear whether the matter was discussed with Tebboune, from whom the journalist’s family has requested a pardon.
