France recalls ambassador to Algeria as diplomatic thaw stalls over Western Sahara dispute

France has ended a more than 12-month suspension of its ambassador to Algeria, Stéphane Romatet, in a move designed to repair frayed diplomatic ties between Paris and Algiers. The decision marks a significant shift in the relationship between the two nations, which have been in a state of severe strain since 2024. This period of tension was primarily driven by France's official backing of Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara, a position that Algeria strongly opposes as it supports the pro-independence Polisario Front.

The resumption of diplomatic normalisation is underscored by a high-profile visit from French Deputy Armed Forces Minister Alice Rufo to Setif in eastern Algeria. Accompanied by Ambassador Romatet, Rufo attended ceremonies marking the 1945 repression of Algerian protesters by French colonial troops. This visit represents the second trip to Algeria by a French cabinet minister in less than three months, following Interior Minister Laurent Nunez's visit in February, signalling a concerted effort to restore an effective dialogue between the two capitals.

The Élysée Palace stated that the mission reflects a determination to address relations between France and Algeria with honesty while respecting historical memories. The 1945 crackdown, which occurred following a rally marking the Allied victory over Nazi Germany, resulted in the deaths of up to 45,000 people according to Algerian figures. By participating in these commemorations, the French government aims to demonstrate a willingness to confront the past while seeking to rebuild institutional trust with its former North African colony.

However, the diplomatic thaw remains incomplete as significant friction points continue to hinder full reconciliation. A major source of contention remains the detention of French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes in Algeria on terror charges. Gleizes was sentenced to seven years in prison in June 2025 for allegedly glorifying terrorism after being accused of contact with a member of the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie. His family recently indicated that he may have withdrawn his appeal to Algeria's highest court, a development seen as potentially paving the way for a presidential pardon.

Previous flashpoints have further complicated the bilateral relationship, including the 2024 arrest of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who was subsequently pardoned in November, and an April 2025 incident involving the charging of an Algerian consular official in France regarding the alleged abduction of Algerian influencer Amir DZ. These events have contributed to a climate of mutual suspicion that the current high-level engagement seeks to mitigate.

While the return of the ambassador and the ministerial visit suggest a desire for a new chapter in Paris-Algiers relations, the underlying disputes over Western Sahara and the unresolved legal status of the detained journalist indicate that the path to a stable partnership is complex. The French government's stated goal is to restore effective dialogue, but the persistence of these specific issues suggests that the diplomatic thaw is tentative rather than definitive.