Algeria

Political relations

The French-Algerian relationship is unique, because of our deep human and historical ties. The last visit by the French President to Algiers on 6 December 2017 set the tone for a deeper relationship. He wanted to send three messages to our partners: the shared desire to move forward together on remembrance; a call to open up the Algerian economy with support for mutual investment; and the desire for a relationship that better addresses the expectations of young people.

The fourth High-Level Intergovernmental Committee (CIHN) meeting, co-chaired by the two Prime Ministers and involving six ministers on each side, was held in Paris on 7 December 2017, giving rise to eleven agreements in five sectors: health, vocational training in the electricity sector, agrifood, entrepreneurship and higher education.

The sixth joint economic meeting (COMEFA) was held in Algiers on 12 March 2020, co-chaired by the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs and his Algerian counterpart. The meeting was an opportunity to address all matters relating to the economic and trade cooperation between our two countries.

The French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, visited Algiers on 21 January 2020, 15-16 October 2020, 8 December 2021 and 13 April 2022.

Furthermore, discussions with our Algerian partners on remembrance matters have found new impetus: the remains of 24 Algerian combatants from the 19th century, conserved at the French National Natural History Museum, were returned to Algeria on 3 July 2020. Following the recommendations in the Stora report on the remembrance of colonization and the Algerian War, submitted to President Macron on 20 January 2021, on 2 March of that year, the President acknowledged France’s responsibility in the torture and assassination of Ali Boumendjel on 23 March 1957. On 9 March 2021, he decided to facilitate the declassification of the Algerian War archives. On 16 October 2021, President Macron was the first French Head of State to commemorate the events of 16 October 1961, for their 60th anniversary.

The trip made by the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs to Algiers on 8 December 2021 restored our bilateral relationship.

Economic relations

Algeria is our second-largest partner in Africa, with trade reaching €8 billion in 2021. French exports to Algeria have decreased (€3.7 billion in 2021), whereas French imports of Algerian goods (91% of which are hydrocarbons) have risen. 
In 2020, France was Algeria’s second-largest supplier (10.6% of imports, after China) and its second-largest customer (13.3% of Algerian exports, behind Italy). 
France is the leading investor outside of the oil and gas sector. Our businesses employ almost 40,000 people directly (100,000 if indirect jobs are included), for around 500 companies present in the country (some 30 CAC 40 companies are active or present on the Algerian market). The main sectors for jobs and activity are financial services (through the presence of Société Générale and BNP Paribas), and transport (with companies including Air France). In the maritime field, CMA CGM, with its staff of 400 people, is a leader on the Algerian market. France’s economic presence is also considerable in Algeria in the sectors of hospitality and catering (Accor, Sodexo and Newrest), automobile vehicles (Renault and Renault Trucks), the environment (Suez Environnement), electricity (Schneider Electric), agrifood (Avril, Agromed and Axéréal) and health (Sanofi, Ipsen).