PARIS – With diplomatic relations between France and Algeria reaching "historic lows," Interior minister Bruno Retailleau's threat to cut back on visas granted to nationals from the North African country may not work without EU backing.

The turbulent relationship between France and its former colony Algeria has hit an all-time low, with the two countries accusing one another of humiliation and wilfully inflaming tensions. RFI

President Emmanuel Macron and key members of the government will meet in the coming days to decide how to respond to what Paris deems as growing hostility from Algeria, France's foreign minister said on Wednesday.

Algerian lawmakers have condemned the European Parliament for a resolution criticizing the arrest of French-Algerian novelist Boualem Sansal.

French authorities Wednesday arrested another Algerian social media influencer as tensions soar between Paris and its North African former colony, the interior minister announced, in a statement that earned him a rare rebuke from Paris prosecutors.

Last summer, Macron shifted his affections to Algeria’s neighbour, King Mohamed VI of Morocco, with whom Algeria had broken relations after “M6″ recognised the state of Israel. Macron announced that France would recognise Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed western Sahara,

Several online activists have been arrested over the past few weeks for inciting violence. Some have TikTok accounts with more than 400,000 followers.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has said he is ready to travel to the African country to address all issues French President Emma

France faces its worst wheat exports in decades as a rift with Algeria, a lull in Chinese demand and a dire harvest accelerate a loss of market share for the European Union's top grain grower to cheaper producers like Russia.

On Sunday, according to the White House, Colombia’s president, Gustavo Petro, had acquiesced “to all of President Trump’s terms, including the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on U.S. military aircraft, without limitation or delay.”

The newly appointed Justice Minister aims to target Algeria's decision-makers responsible for 'humiliating' France amid a new diplomatic crisis.

Global Forecast as of 12:00 GMT Wednesday, January 29, 2025