### Diploma tensions: Algeria and France at the crossroads
Franco-Algerian relations, already marked by a tumultuous story, have experienced an unprecedented escalation since Algiers’ refusal to accept a list of Algerian nationals intended for expulsion. This rejection, against a backdrop of discord on bilateral agreements, not only relaunched the debate on the reciprocity of commitments, but also highlighted a latent question: that of French real estate in Algeria.
It is interesting to question the very nature of these real estate interests. Are they simply the testimony of a post-colonial relationship marked by the need to maintain a diplomatic presence, or do they cover a deeper meaning in the current context?
### Real estate: symbols of a colonial past
Algeria has, in fact, 61 real estate occupied by France, including the French Embassy in Algiers. These properties have often been perceived as vestiges of the colonial past, and their presence in Algerian territory recalls the complexity of relations between the two nations. These places, with symbolic rents, raise questions about justice and equity in a framework of diplomatic cooperation.
Through this prism, France faces a situation where its occupation agreements become a source of tension. While it advocates cooperation respectful of everyone’s rights, Algeria claims the reassessment of this situation in the eyes of imbalances in the colonial past. This brings us to the crucial question of the perception and interpretation of the agreements signed in a complex historical context. According to some studies, France has always had a stranglehold on economic resources in Algeria, but at what price has it been made for Algerians?
### reciprocity and accuracy: a fragile balance
Voices rise from both sides of the Mediterranean to request a reform of the agreements of 1968, the very people who confer a special status to the Algerians in France. The Algerian press agency clearly indicated that if Paris wishes to advance the debate on reciprocal commitments, then it is time to consider the position of Algeria as fully legitimate. The figures speak for themselves: in 2022, 220,000 Algerians resided in France, illustrating the importance of migratory dynamics between the two countries.
The question of expulsions therefore becomes a sensitive subject. The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, stressed that the refusal of expulsion harms the “interests of France”, but what are these interests at stake? Can France really continue to ignore the context and the expectations of a country which, after decades of struggle for its independence, seeks to redefine its relations with its former colonizer?
#### A strategies match: towards an Algerian response?
The palpable tension around real estate in Algeria could be perceived as a strategic maneuver. By deploying this card in the diplomatic game, Algeria affirms its sovereignty and shows that it has levers to activate. The evocation of a suspension of the 1968 agreements is not just a simple threat but a means of demanding mutual respect for commitments. She also raises the question of whether France, in its approach, is not underestimating the extent of what it represents for Algeria on the international scene.
While this affair evolves, the consequences of a possible hardening of relations would not be only geopolitical, but could also affect the millions of citizens descending from Algerians living in France or the many economic interests of French companies in Algeria. A change of state of mind may be necessary to avoid a new fracture that could upset the economic and social landscape of the two nations.
#### Conclusion
In this context of tensions, the future of relations between Algeria and France seems to be hovering in an frozen uncertainty. It is to be hoped that a constructive dialogue can emerge from this dead end, making it possible to initiate a re -evaluation of the agreements which take into account contemporary issues and the redefinition of national identities. The ball is now in the camps of the leaders of the two coasts of the Mediterranean, and the ability to initiate a reconciliation process may well condition the so much wanted peace. The voices of history, mutual respect and the dignity of peoples must resonate stronger than old bitterness on the way to renewed cooperation.