Algeria and France agree to restore security cooperation after visit by French Interior Minister
## Security Cooperation Between France and Algeria Reinitiated
Security Cooperation Between France and Algeria Reinitiated
On Tue, Oct 10, 2023, France and Algeria agreed to restart security cooperation during a visit by French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez to Algiers. This marks a significant development in the diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Following a meeting with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Minister Nuñez announced the reactivation of a "high-level security cooperation mechanism."
The visit occurred amid challenging relations between France and its former colony, which have been strained since France's official support of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2024. Algeria supports the pro-independence Polisario Front in this region.
Minister Nuñez indicated that the discussions on Monday focused on "restoring normal security relations," which include:
Judicial cooperation Policing Intelligence sharing
On Tue, Oct 10, 2023, France and Algeria agreed to restart security cooperation during a visit by French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez to Algiers.
He expressed gratitude to the Algerian president for initiating collaboration with French authorities to "improve cooperation on readmissions," addressing Algeria's previous refusal to repatriate its nationals residing irregularly in France.
The renewed cooperation is expected to commence "as quickly as possible" and continue "at a very high level," as confirmed by Nuñez. The discussions involved senior security officials from both nations, including France's domestic intelligence chief and Algeria's head of internal security.
Invited by his counterpart Said Sayoud, the visit by Minister Nuñez had been planned for several months but faced delays. Both sides have numerous issues to address, with a focus on:
Algeria's strategic position, sharing borders with nations affected by jihadist violence like Niger and Mali, underscores its importance in counterterrorism efforts.
Additionally, Minister Nuñez had raised the case of Christophe Gleizes, a French sports journalist imprisoned for "glorifying terrorism." It remains unclear if this topic was discussed during the visit.
Based on reporting by Africanews.
