France and Algeria have agreed to resume high‑level security cooperation, marking the first meaningful easing of tensions between the two countries. The announcement came during French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez’s visit to Algiers on Tuesday, where he met with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
After the meeting, Nunez confirmed that both sides had agreed to “reactivate a high‑level security cooperation mechanism.”
A visit shaped by strained ties
Relations between France and its former colony have been fraught since 2024, when Paris formally backed Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, a disputed region where Algeria supports the pro‑independence Polisario Front.
Nunez said Monday was dedicated to working sessions aimed at “restoring normal security relations,” including cooperation in:
- judicial matters
- policing
- intelligence
He also thanked President Tebboune for directing Algerian authorities to work with France to improve cooperation on readmissions, an issue that has been stalled for months as Algeria refused to take back its nationals living irregularly in France.
Nunez said the renewed cooperation should take effect “as quickly as possible” and continue “at a very high level.”
Senior security officials involved
Images released by Algerian authorities showed senior security figures from both countries attending the talks, including:
- France’s domestic intelligence chief
- Algeria’s head of internal security
Nunez’s trip, invited by his counterpart Said Sayoud, had been planned for months but repeatedly postponed.
Key issues on the agenda
Before departing for Algiers, Nunez said he intended to raise all major security concerns, including:
- drug trafficking
- counterterrorism
Algeria plays a central role in regional counterterrorism efforts, sharing borders with Niger and Mali, both currently under military juntas and facing persistent extremist violence.
Case of jailed French journalist
Ahead of the visit, Nunez also mentioned the case of Christophe Gleizes, a French sports journalist serving a seven‑year sentence in Algeria for “glorifying terrorism.” It remains unclear whether the issue was discussed with President Tebboune, though the journalist’s family has requested a presidential pardon.
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