Maghreb Edition

Franco-Algerian relations set to worsen over planned military maneuvers in MoroccoF

Posted On 7 March 2025

Number of times this article was read : 6259

On 6 March 2025, Algeria summoned French Ambassador Stéphane Romatet to convey its opposition to the planned Franco-Moroccan military maneuvers scheduled for September 2025 in Errachidia, near the Algerian border. Algeria called the “Chergui 2025” maneuvers as a “provocation that would further worsen the already tense relations between Algiers and Paris.

Relations between Algeria and France have been strained ever since France changed its neutral stance in the Western Sahara crisis, essentially endorsing the Moroccan position, which Algeria opposes. In addition, France and Algeria have been on opposite sides in the debate over France’s history and colonization of Algeria, and the rise of the far-right in France is intensifying the diplomatic crisis between the two countries.

Both France and Algeria have been making steps that led to a worsening of their diplomatic relations, including France’s tightening of its policies against migrants, and Algeria’s arresting Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal.

The latest episode of the crisis is the recent visits by high-ranking French officials to the disputed Western Sahara. The visits to the region of French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati and Senate President Gérard Larcher were perceived in Algiers as further diplomatic provocations.

The upcoming military exercises involving French troops in Morocco near the Algerian border are likely to raise more anti-France sentiment in Algeria.

Subscribe to Urgent Notifications and Newsletter

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Egypt joins China’s tariff-free initiative as Beijing opens its market to nearly all of AfricaF

Egypt joins China’s tariff-free initiative as Beijing opens its market to nearly all of AfricaF

Egypt joined China’s expanded zero-tariff scheme on 1 May 2026, gaining duty-free access to the Chinese market alongside 52 other African countries with diplomatic ties to Beijing. The move eliminates tariffs that previously ran from 8 to 30 percent on key Egyptian exports, though the arrangement is a two-year preferential window through April 2028 rather than a permanent deal, and non-tariff barriers like rules of origin and phytosanitary standards still apply.

While its minorities are winning World Cup games, France is preparing to pivot to the far rightF

While its minorities are winning World Cup games, France is preparing to pivot to the far rightF

As France’s multiethnic World Cup squad marches toward the semifinals, the country’s 2027 presidential race is tilting hard right. Right-winger Marine Le Pen leads first-round polling and beats nearly every rival in hypothetical runoffs. With RN president Jordan Bardella waiting in the wings and Jean-Luc Mélenchon consolidating the left, France’s fractured center may not be able to stop either a far-right or hard-left runoff in 2027. Here is our take.

Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.