While diplomatic tensions have poisoned relations between France and Algeria for several months – immigration, Western Sahara, the arrest of influencers, visa restrictions – France 24 met with members of the Algerian diaspora in Paris. They share their hopes that these tensions will ease.
Published : 25/03/2025 -
FRANCE24
By: Irène SULMONT
A montage showing the Great Mosque of Paris, on March 21, 2025. © iStock, Studio graphique France Médias Monde / Alexandre Neracoulis
In the Barbès-Rochechouart district located in the north of Paris, the sun's rays illuminate, on this Friday, March 21, the stalls of round biscuits coated with honey, the pastries filled with almonds and flavored with orange blossom, the varieties of sweet dates. "Ramadan is a time when sales are good," says Mahjoub Youssef, originally from Algiers, who works as a salesman in one of the pastry shops on Boulevard de la Chapelle.
However, this festive period has a special flavour this year for Algerians in France, who are closely following the tense exchanges between Paris and Algiers. Some members of the Algerian community find this rift worrying, while others prefer not to elaborate on the subject, sometimes for fear of reprisals.
"Diplomatic tensions? It's not my problem and it's none of my business. Give my opinion? It only gets me into trouble," Mahjoub said.
See also France-Algeria: towards a break?
In the Barbès-Rochechouart district located in the north of Paris, the sun's rays illuminate, on this Friday, March 21, the stalls of round biscuits coated with honey, the pastries filled with almonds and flavored with orange blossom, the varieties of sweet dates. "Ramadan is a time when sales are good," says Mahjoub Youssef, originally from Algiers, who works as a salesman in one of the pastry shops on Boulevard de la Chapelle.
However, this festive period has a special flavour this year for Algerians in France, who are closely following the tense exchanges between Paris and Algiers. Some members of the Algerian community find this rift worrying, while others prefer not to elaborate on the subject, sometimes for fear of reprisals.
"Diplomatic tensions? It's not my problem and it's none of my business. Give my opinion? It only gets me into trouble," Mahjoub said.
See also France-Algeria: towards a break?
Originally from Algiers, Mahjoub Youssef is a salesman in one of the shops on Boulevard de la Chapelle, in Barbès-Rochechouart, north of Paris, on March 21, 2025. © Irène Sulmont, France 24
The stalls on Boulevard de la Chapelle, in Barbès-Rochechouart, in the north of Paris, on March 21, 2025. © Irène Sulmont, France 24
"I don't prefer to talk about politics"
Yassine, 36, who owns a halal meat shop in the district and has lived in Seine-Saint-Denis for about twenty years, calmly comments on the situation. "We work with French, Muslims, Christians, Jews without any problem." Although he has both passports, he remains convinced that "France and Algeria are brotherly peoples" and that diplomatic tensions "are very far from the daily life of the people of the neighborhood, where Algerians are overrepresented."
Yassine is tired of French party officials and "prefers not to talk about politics". "Last time, a politician said 'Algerians are thugs'. What should we not hear!" he laments.
To be read
A halal meat shop, boulevard de la Chapelle, in the Barbès-Rochechouart district, on March 21, 2025. © Irène Sulmont, France 24
A halal meat shop, boulevard de la Chapelle, in the Barbès-Rochechouart district, on March 21, 2025. © Irène Sulmont, France 24
Originally from Annaba in Algeria, owner of a date shop, who arrived in France 35 years ago, Mouloud believes that there are no "problems or significant changes in his daily life". For him, the recent tensions are a "small temporary crisis", and he believes that the only desirable thing "is a good relationship between the two countries".
This "yo-yo relationship, since colonization, has left after-effects and the consequences are undeniable at the economic, relational and cultural levels," he concludes.
Originally from Annaba in Algeria, owner of a date shop, who arrived in France 35 years ago, Mouloud believes that there are no "problems or significant changes in his daily life". For him, the recent tensions are a "small temporary crisis", and he believes that the only desirable thing "is a good relationship between the two countries".
This "yo-yo relationship, since colonization, has left after-effects and the consequences are undeniable at the economic, relational and cultural levels," he concludes.
A store on Boulevard de la Chapelle, in Barbès-Rochechouart, in the north of Paris, on March 21, 2025. © Irène Sulmont, France 24
"A lack of dialogue between the two nations"
Shortly before the time of the Dohr prayer in front of the Great Mosque of Paris, tongues are loosened at midday in the Jardin-des-Plantes district, in the5th arrondissement of the capital.
"A lack of dialogue between the two nations"
Shortly before the time of the Dohr prayer in front of the Great Mosque of Paris, tongues are loosened at midday in the Jardin-des-Plantes district, in the5th arrondissement of the capital.
Un peu avant l’heure de la prière de Dohr devant la Grande mosquée de Paris, le 21 mars 2025. © Irène Sulmont, France 24
Âgée de 81 ans, Myriam, d’origine kabyle, affirme qu’autour d’elle, "les gens sont abasourdis par la situation et le climat médiatique". Pour les Algériens de France, il est impossible, "même si nous nous sentons français, de balayer notre appartenance d'un revers de main". Elle concède cependant que "de l'autre côté de la Méditerranée, ils sont obtus et apparemment très susceptibles".
According to her, the deterioration of the bilateral relationship finds its essence "in a lack of dialogue between the two nations", since by "listening to the other, it is easier to find a compromise". Regarding Algeria's reactions, Myriam says however that "we cannot swallow everything without reacting and this is perfectly normal".
As for Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who last week promised a "graduated" response to Algeria's refusal to take back its nationals that France wanted to expel from the country, "he should review his copy," she said politely. "It's not by fighting right away that you get what you want," she said.
One of the main reasons for the current disagreement is Emmanuel Macron's announcement, in July 2024, of his strong support for an autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty for Western Sahara. "Emmanuel Macron is turning his back on the side of the Moroccans," she laments.
The octogenarian finally prefers "not to think about the repercussions and the future".
The feeling of "having your ass between two chairs"
Two young Franco-Algerian women confide more frankly, declaring that they "do not want to evolve or start a family in France". Children of the Algerian diaspora, aged 30 and 24, the young women were born in France and work in the Parisian artistic milieu. One, Dounia, is in design, the other, Neïla, in the music industry.
Government threats, visa issues, questioning of the 1968 agreements, arrests of influencers, intellectuals... "The news is tiring and anxiety-provoking. By dint of it, we stop following it," says Dounia.
"To be honest, we perfectly understand the Algerian decisions and reluctance towards France," Dounia said. This was mainly because of "the history of colonisation and the French crimes committed during the Algerian war", she added. Beyond the Franco-Algerian relationship, "the recent debates on the veil and, in general, the perception of Islam in France give me the feeling that I am not welcome here", Neïla laments. This is difficult to accept for these women who "were born here, have Western codes, French culture and mentality", she continues.
This double belonging gives the feeling of "having our ass between two chairs", since "in the bled, we are French, and in Paris, we are foreigners", concludes Dounia.
Âgée de 81 ans, Myriam, d’origine kabyle, affirme qu’autour d’elle, "les gens sont abasourdis par la situation et le climat médiatique". Pour les Algériens de France, il est impossible, "même si nous nous sentons français, de balayer notre appartenance d'un revers de main". Elle concède cependant que "de l'autre côté de la Méditerranée, ils sont obtus et apparemment très susceptibles".
According to her, the deterioration of the bilateral relationship finds its essence "in a lack of dialogue between the two nations", since by "listening to the other, it is easier to find a compromise". Regarding Algeria's reactions, Myriam says however that "we cannot swallow everything without reacting and this is perfectly normal".
As for Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who last week promised a "graduated" response to Algeria's refusal to take back its nationals that France wanted to expel from the country, "he should review his copy," she said politely. "It's not by fighting right away that you get what you want," she said.
One of the main reasons for the current disagreement is Emmanuel Macron's announcement, in July 2024, of his strong support for an autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty for Western Sahara. "Emmanuel Macron is turning his back on the side of the Moroccans," she laments.
The octogenarian finally prefers "not to think about the repercussions and the future".
The feeling of "having your ass between two chairs"
Two young Franco-Algerian women confide more frankly, declaring that they "do not want to evolve or start a family in France". Children of the Algerian diaspora, aged 30 and 24, the young women were born in France and work in the Parisian artistic milieu. One, Dounia, is in design, the other, Neïla, in the music industry.
Government threats, visa issues, questioning of the 1968 agreements, arrests of influencers, intellectuals... "The news is tiring and anxiety-provoking. By dint of it, we stop following it," says Dounia.
"To be honest, we perfectly understand the Algerian decisions and reluctance towards France," Dounia said. This was mainly because of "the history of colonisation and the French crimes committed during the Algerian war", she added. Beyond the Franco-Algerian relationship, "the recent debates on the veil and, in general, the perception of Islam in France give me the feeling that I am not welcome here", Neïla laments. This is difficult to accept for these women who "were born here, have Western codes, French culture and mentality", she continues.
This double belonging gives the feeling of "having our ass between two chairs", since "in the bled, we are French, and in Paris, we are foreigners", concludes Dounia.
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