The President of the France-Algeria Association, Ségolène Royal, affirmed that dialogue between the two nations must be grounded in “respect” and “consideration” for Algeria’s sovereignty. She paid tribute to the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, for driving “extraordinary growth” in a “new, sovereign, and non-aligned Algeria.” In an interview with the Canal Algérie TV channel, Royal denounced the “political posturing” and “hate speech” from certain French factions that “refuse to recognize Algeria’s sovereignty and hamper the development of bilateral relations.” “I hope dialogue will resume with respect and consideration,” she continued.
“Some French people still see Algeria as if it were in the 1970s. But no, it is a country that has changed enormously,” she said, citing an “economic growth of nearly 4% over two consecutive years, more than 10% cumulatively over three years.” Praising the “extraordinary potential” of Algerian youth, Royal stated that her role is to raise the profile of the “New Algeria,” a country asserting its “national sovereignty” and “non-alignment” while affirming its “freedom” to choose its allies and destiny despite resistance from the “former colonial power.” Addressing the issue of memory, Royal noted that “reconciliation cannot be achieved without full recognition of historical facts.” She stated that France has a duty to “apologize and make reparations,” demanding “the unconditional return of cultural property, particularly that of Emir Abdelkader, all historical archives, and the remains of Algerian resistance fighters still held in France.” “It is so simple that one wonders why it has not been done yet. We return what was taken, that’s all,” she said, calling on French President Emmanuel Macron to take action.
She further insisted on “the urgency for France to hand over all files relating to nuclear tests in the Sahara so that victims can be cared for and sites decontaminated,” describing these steps as “simple and obvious gestures for anyone wishing to build a common future.” Referring to the “contrast in diplomatic relations,” she wondered, “why Algeria gets along with Italy, Spain, and Germany, but not with France.” She described this situation as “absurd,” pointing to France’s responsibility for missing out on “large-scale economic projects” now being carried out with other partners.
Regarding her visit to Algeria, Royal said she is working to “promote friendship between peoples, encounters, and economic and cultural projects.” “When I return to France, I will say: Be careful, one day it will be too late,” she concluded, emphasizing the strategic importance of Algeria as a vital “gateway to the African continent.”
