{"id":76646,"date":"2023-01-26T01:53:36","date_gmt":"2023-01-26T01:53:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africannewspaper.net\/2023\/01\/26\/france-empowers-military-run-algeria-the-north-africa-post\/"},"modified":"2023-01-26T01:54:01","modified_gmt":"2023-01-26T01:54:01","slug":"france-empowers-military-run-algeria-the-north-africa-post","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africannewspaper.net\/2023\/01\/26\/france-empowers-military-run-algeria-the-north-africa-post\/","title":{"rendered":"France empowers military-run Algeria \u2013 The North Africa Post"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
France and Algeria signed a military-security cooperation agreement during the visit of Said Chengrigha, the head of the ruling military junta.<\/p>\n
After a series of visits, including one by Emmanuel Macron, the deal was reached. Officials from France and Algeria talked more about the past than the future during this visit.<\/p>\n
Chengriha is also reported to have met Macron but it was forbidden for the media to film.<\/p>\n
The visit by Algerian chief of staff is said to be preparatory for an upcoming visit to France by the civilian fa\u00e7ade of the Algerian regime President Tebboune.<\/p>\n
The expected negative impact of the cooperation deals on worsening Moroccan\u2013French relations is anticipated. Morocco would suffer if a warlord regime is given legitimacy and cooperation promises.<\/p>\n
It also shows France’s willingness to compromise to keep ties with an Algerian government that ironically used anti-French sentiment as a basis for popular legitimacy.<\/p>\n
However, Macron and his administration ignore warnings from ex-diplomats who served in Algeria, including former ambassador Xavier Driencourt.<\/p>\n
Driencourt warned in an op-ed published on Le Figaro that Algeria is economically, socially and politically in trouble and that France will follow it.<\/p>\n
This romance between Macron and the Kingmaker of Algeria\u2019s military dictatorship is taking place at a context Morocco endures repeated attacks instigated by French members of the European Parliament.<\/p>\n
The same parliament chose the right time to focus on three Moroccan journalists charged with rape or sexual assault. It ignored the cases of thousands in Algeria of pro-democracy activists, journalists, and Kabyle activists being held arbitrarily at Algerian jails.<\/p>\n
The Moroccan parliament strongly reacted to the double standards of European Parliament and condemned the active role played MEPs from an ironically friendly country, hinting at anti-Morocco activism by French representatives.<\/p>\n
France and Europe will work hand in hand to get gas. This is because of the regime’s failing social and economic policies, and inability to stop illegal migration.<\/p>\n
French and Algerian military cooperation at a time when Chengriha and Tebboune refer to Morocco as an enemy, and threaten to wage a war on Rabat is a sign that France doesn’t value its partnership with Morocco.<\/p>\n
France seems to be more concerned with taking a chunk of Algeria\u2019s colossal defense budget of 23 billion dollars than contributing to regional stability in the EU\u2019s southern neighborhood.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n