France’s Interior Minister calls for end to preferential immigration terms granted to Algerians

France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau is questioning the 1968 agreement between France and Algeria that provides preferential immigration status to Algerians wishing to live and work in France, according to Morocco World News.

“This agreement is outdated and has skewed Algerian immigration. It should no longer exist. We need to revisit it,” Retailleau said during an interview on French TV channel BFMTV on Sunday.

The call comes amid a growing diplomatic dispute regarding an Algerian influencer in France accused of inciting violence. France had extradited the influencer, but Algeria refused to accept him and subsequently sent him back. Additionally, France is upset over Algeria’s decision to imprison Boualem Sansal, a French-Algerian writer critical of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

“Algeria has failed to respect international law,” Retailleau remarked in the TV interview. “France must explore ways to respond to Algeria... I support strong measures because without showing strength, we won’t succeed.”

The 1968 agreement reportedly grants Algerians an expedited process for obtaining 10-year residency permits and allows them to enter France without long-stay visas.

Morocco World News reports that French President Emmanuel Macron would have to approve any changes to the agreement. He hasn’t expressed a willingness to do so in the past when other political leaders have suggested it. 

Diplomatic relations between the two countries have worsened since July following France’s recognition of Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, which Algeria strongly opposes.