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Algerians blame Macron ‘electioneering’ for latest crisis

MENA WATCH – The New Arab Staff & Agencies – 04 October, 2021 -Many Algerians have accusing Macron of using Algeria to undercut extreme-right rivals such as pundit Eric Zemmour.

As ties with France deteriorate, many in Algeria blame electioneering by President Emmanuel Macron, but analysts say he is also disappointed that his overtures to the former colony failed.

Algeria over the weekend recalled its ambassador from Paris and banned French military planes from its airspace, which France regularly uses to reach its forces battling jihadists in the Sahel region.

That came after a bitter row over visas, followed by media reports that Macron had told descendents of Algeria’s war of independence that the North African country was ruled by a “political-military system” that had “totally re-written” its history.

Journalist Ali Bahmane wrote in Algeria’s French-language daily El Watan that Macron was “desperately” trying to win April elections.

“To do this, he is taking the foolish risk of getting lost in issues of extreme sensitivity, such as French colonisation in Algeria (in order) to win over part of the right and the extreme right.”

Hassen Kacimi, an Algerian expert on migration, told AFP that “politics in France is caught up in election campaigning, Macron included”.

“The atmosphere is dominated by far-right discourse” ahead of the April polls, he said.

“Relations between France and Algeria have never left the racist prism of colonist/coloniser which has always treated Algeria with condescension and mistrust.”

Many Algerians on social media agreed, accusing Macron of using Algeria to undercut extreme-right rivals such as pundit Eric Zemmour.

But for Geneva-based expert Hasni Abidi, Macron’s comments also reflect his “disappointment” at Algeria’s unenthusiastic response to attempts to turn the page on France’s past in Algeria, which it occupied from 1830 until 1962.