Tebboune condemns France’s colonial Past, nuclear tests, and immigration policies

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune publicly dismissed the possibility of visiting France in a televised interview on Saturday, calling such a trip "humiliating" given the current strained relationship between the two countries. 

The planned visit, originally set for late 2024, was meant to ease tensions, but recent developments have derailed diplomatic efforts.

In his interview, Tebboune used the historical phrase, "I will not go to Canossa," to express his refusal to visit France under the current circumstances. 

The expression, popularized by German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck in the 19th century, refers to the submission of Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV in 1077, who traveled to Canossa, Italy, to beg for the forgiveness of Pope Gregory VII after being excommunicated. By invoking this, Tebboune strongly rejected any notion of bowing to France or seeking reconciliation from a weakened position.

The president's visit to France, initially scheduled for May 2023, had already been postponed several times. It was most recently slated for late September or early October 2024. 

However, the diplomatic relationship between Algiers and Paris has soured, particularly after France’s recent support for Morocco’s autonomy plan in Western Sahara, a disputed territory. This led Algeria to recall its ambassador and reduce its diplomatic presence in Paris to only a chargé d’affaires in July 2024.

Tebboune took the opportunity to emphasize the long-standing grievances Algeria holds over its colonial past with France. Citing the French colonization from 1830 to 1962, he stated, "Algeria was chosen for the great replacement, the real great replacement." 

Tebboune accused the French colonial administration of seeking to displace the local population to make room for European settlers, resulting in what he described as a genocidal campaign.

"The Algerian population was approximately four million before colonization, and after 132 years, we were barely nine million. There was a genocide," Tebboune asserted. He stressed that Algeria demands "historical truth" and blamed what he called a "hateful minority" in France for obstructing progress on the issue of colonial memory.

The president also raised another sensitive issue: the legacy of French nuclear tests in Algeria. Between 1960 and 1966, France conducted 17 nuclear tests in the Algerian Sahara. 

These tests have left a lasting impact, with declassified documents in 2013 revealing significant radioactive contamination across parts of Africa and southern Europe.

"Do you want us to be friends? Come clean up the nuclear test sites," Tebboune challenged France. His comments highlighted the unresolved environmental and health issues stemming from these tests, which continue to strain relations between the two countries.

Another focal point of the interview was the 1968 Franco-Algerian agreement, which grants Algerians special rights concerning movement, residency, and employment in France. 

Tebboune criticized the growing opposition in France, particularly from right-wing groups, calling the agreement "a banner behind which the army of extremists marches."

The 1968 agreement was initially established at a time when France needed labor for its post-war economic growth. The deal provides Algerians with certificates of residence instead of standard residence permits, allowing them to settle more freely in France, especially for commercial or independent work. It also grants them faster access to a 10-year residency permit compared to other foreign nationals.

In December 2023, France's National Assembly rejected a proposal to denounce the agreement, but right-wing opposition to the deal remains strong. Tebboune accused these extremist factions of seeking to dismantle the special status Algerians hold under this longstanding agreement.

As relations between Algeria and France continue to deteriorate, Tebboune’s forceful rejection of a visit to France reflects the deep-rooted tensions over colonial history, nuclear testing, and migration policies. With no immediate resolution in sight, the future of Franco-Algerian diplomacy remains uncertain.