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Relations between France and Algeria, which have rarely been warm, have turned markedly
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icy over the past few months, chilled by diplomatic crises, political arrests, and spats over immigration
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The current crisis was sparked when French President Emmanuel Macron recognized Moroccan
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sovereignty over Western Sahara in July 2024. Until then, France's position had been aligned with the United Nations, which considers it
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a non-self-governing territory. Hailed as a major diplomatic victory by Morocco, the move was seen as a historic betrayal by Algeria
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which has supported the Polisario Front fighting for independence. Tensions were further aggravated by this year's arrests and trials
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of multiple Algerian social media influencers for hate speech and advocating violence
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often against those who have been critical of the Algerian government. On the other side, France has been irritated by the arrest of Franco-Algerian writer Boalem Sansal in Algeria
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In March Sansal was sentenced to five years in prison for comments he made over territorial disputes involving Morocco Algeria and France The largest thorn in diplomatic relations however has been immigration
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About 650,000 Algerians lived in France in 2024, constituting the largest foreign nationality
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France has tried to deport many who have come over illegally, as well as those who have committed crimes
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but Algeria has repeatedly refused to accept her patriation. This gained widespread attention in February
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when an Algerian national that Algeria refused to take back went on a stabbing spree in Malouz, killing one and wounding six
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Algerian nationals have enjoyed special immigration exceptions in terms of residence and employment since 1968
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a few years after Algeria gained independence from France. But the lack of cooperation on deportations
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coupled with pressure from high-ranking French politicians, has led French Prime Minister François Véroux
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to threaten to revise these immigration accords, revoke privileges for diplomats, and re-examine the entire Franco-Algerian diplomatic relationship
