First Independent Mena Newspaper
Facing hurdles since 2020, the Renault factory on which the Algerian regime pinned high hopes braces for a total shutdown, marking an utter fiasco of the automotive industry in the Maghreb country, at a context of tense ties between Paris and Algiers. In 2012, Algerian authorities under then President Bouteflika convinced Renault to set up […]
France is considering imposing visa requirements on holders of Algerian diplomatic passport, amid a brewing crisis that prompted French officials to vow to retaliate against what they considered as a series of Algerian disrespect, which included arbitrary arrests of a dual-national novelist, instigation of diaspora, and refusal to admit nationals expelled from France for spreading […]
Relations between France and Algeria have deteriorated to their worst level in decades in a showdown in which French President Emmanuel Macron assumes some responsibility in having sought to reconcile with an Algerian military-led regime that subsists on hostility to anything French. In offering too many concessions to the military regime in Algiers and turning […]
Former French President Sarkozy remained defiant during his trial at a Paris court on Thursday (9 January), as he told the judges that the supposed illegal Libyan financing of his successful 2007 presidential bid was a “conspiracy,” stating “You will never find a single Libyan euro or cent in my campaign.” Sarkozy has gone on […]
A legal action has been launched in Paris against Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune for “enforced disappearance” of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal. The legal proceeding was initiated by a local French association which holds the Algerian presidency accountable for the enforced disappearance, deprivation of liberty, and arbitrary detention of the 75-year-old novelist. Sansal was arrested at […]
French President Emmanuel Macron hailed on Monday the “unprecedented ambition” of the partnership built with Morocco during his recent state visit to the Kingdom, at the invitation of King Mohammed VI. “One of the highlights of recent months has been what we managed to build with His Majesty King Mohammed VI during the state visit,” […]
French authorities arrested three Algerian influencers on social media who threatened to use violence against Algerian regime’s opponents in France. The arrest signals that France will take seriously the calls for violence emanating from figures with ties to the Algerian regime, which has mobilized many influencers to smear and attack opposition figures. A spate of […]
French President Emmanuel Macron called on Algeria to release prominent novelist Boualem Sansal, who has been jailed by Algerian authorities since mid-November. In keeping Sansal behind bars, Algeria was “dishonoring itself,” Macron told French ambassadors. Macron deplored that Sansal, 75, is denied medical care due to his arrest. “And we, who love the Algerian people […]
France faces a significant challenge to its influence in West and Central Africa as Chad, Senegal and most recently also Ivory Coast have announced the end to traditional military cooperation with their former colonial master, experts say, adding that this would unravel France’s remaining logistics and military footprint in the region. In recent months, six […]
Ivorian president has announced the withdrawal of French troops from the country’s territory in January, becoming the latest African nation to weaken military ties with its former colonial master. President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire said in his end-of-year speech on Tuesday (31 December) that the French military would hand over control of its Port […]