Reset in motion: Macron and Tebboune shift from crisis to cooperation

In a rare move after months of diplomatic silence, French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune held a phone call on Monday evening in a bid to ease escalating tensions between their countries. 

The conversation marks a potential turning point in a relationship strained by migration disputes, the imprisonment of French-Algerian author Boualem Sansal, and frozen security cooperation.

According to sources familiar with the exchange, both leaders discussed a "reset" in bilateral ties, signaling a shift away from public confrontations toward quiet diplomacy.

Macron’s new strategy represents a clear departure from previous methods. After months of stalled dialogue, the French President opted to open back-channel communications earlier this year. Multiple presidential envoys from the Élysée were dispatched to Algiers—with the most recent visit, “a few days ago,” paving the way for Monday’s phone call.

In follow-up actions, Macron convened key ministers on Tuesday. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot is scheduled to travel to Algiers on April 6, with Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin expected to follow.

A First Test: Migration Talks

A tangible first step will be the resumption of technical talks on migration, specifically a meeting between France’s regional prefects and Algeria’s 18 consuls based in France. The objective, Paris says, is to restore more efficient cooperation in managing deportation cases.

At the heart of the discussion is the 1994 bilateral agreement, which obliges Algeria to accept its nationals who are subject to deportation orders from France—a provision Algiers has been accused of ignoring.

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, speaking at a public event near Paris, said he was "cautiously optimistic" for the first time.

“This agreement is clear: Algeria must take back its nationals who are being deported. I believe that is finally being understood,” he said.
He also expressed hope that Boualem Sansal—whose imprisonment sparked outrage in France—could soon “return.”

The case of Boualem Sansal, a renowned secular writer detained in Algeria since November 2024, has symbolized the collapse in relations. His arrest—officially tied to statements about historical ties between Algeria and Morocco—has been widely viewed as political.

While France has not openly demanded his release, observers believe Macron is waiting for a goodwill gesture from Tebboune—possibly a presidential pardon—to restore trust.

Beyond migration and Sansal, security cooperation is also expected to resume. France is eager to rebuild intelligence-sharing mechanisms, particularly concerning counterterrorism efforts in West Africa, where Algeria remains a key regional player.

Algeria, for its part, had emphasized its desire to avoid "political commotion" and appears to welcome Macron’s softer tone. Both sides seem aligned in their intent to reduce public friction and return to pragmatic engagement.

This thaw in relations may still be fragile, but Monday’s call—and the diplomatic choreography around it—suggests that both nations are ready to turn the page, at least for now.