The state visit of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to France remains in preparation, according to the Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs. This visit is conditional on the resolution of five important files.
The minister highlighted the issues of memory, mobility, economic cooperation, French nuclear tests in the Algerian Sahara and the restitution of the sword and burnous of Emir Abdelkader.
Despite the fact that “the president had to go to the Château d’Amboise where the Emir Abdelkader was imprisoned (…), the French authorities refused to return him, arguing the need for a law”, specified the minister .
Concerning the French nuclear tests, Algeria demands “recognition of the damage caused” as well as compensation.
Between 1960 and 1966, France carried out 17 nuclear tests in the Algerian Sahara, at Reggane then In Ekker. Documents declassified in 2013 revealed significant radioactive fallout that extended from West Africa to Southern Europe.
“Five major and serious problems have not yet found solutions. But we continue to work on them,” reiterated the minister, stressing that visits between officials of the two countries are continuing to prepare for this state visit.
At the beginning of August, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared that his state visit to France was “maintained” but depended on the “program” of the Élysée, specifying that a “state visit has conditions ” and that it is not “a tourist visit”.
This visit, initially planned for the beginning of May, was postponed until June for fear of the May 1 demonstrations against the highly contested pension reform in France, according to consistent sources.
This visit was to mark an improvement in relations between the two countries after numerous diplomatic crises.
In this article, we highlight the complex issues surrounding President Tebboune’s state visit to France. The various unresolved issues, such as the question of memory, nuclear tests and the restitution of cultural property, show the challenges that the two countries face. This visit is of particular importance in the context of the bilateral relationship and could pave the way for opportunities for economic and political cooperation. However, it is essential that these issues are resolved satisfactorily for the visit to take place. It is to be hoped that the ongoing negotiations will make it possible to find mutually acceptable solutions, thus promoting a constructive dialogue between Algeria and France.