Diplomatic discord between Algeria and France deepens after Algiers bans French military planes from its airspace, in its latest response to a row over visas and critical comments from President Emmanuel Macron.
Algeria has closed its
airspace to French military planes, France’s military said, escalating the biggest row between the countries in
years.
A spokesperson for the French Armed Forces said on Sunday that Algeria had
closed its airspace to two flights, but that it would have “no
major consequences” for operations in the Sahel region, south of
Algeria.
Algeria’s government and military were not immediately
available for comment on the closure of airspace.
READ MORE:
Algeria recalls ambassador to France as tensions rise
Macron accused of interfering in Algeria
On Saturday, Algeria recalled its ambassador to Paris citing comments attributed to French President Emmanuel Macron, who was quoted in Le Monde as saying Algeria’s “politico-military system” had rewritten the history of its colonisation by France based on “a hatred of France”.
The Algerian government did not specify which Macron comment
had prompted the recall of its ambassador, but it accused him of
interfering in Algerian internal affairs.
Macron was also quoted questioning whether there had been an
Algerian nation before French colonial rule. Algeria won its
independence from France in 1962 after a bloody military
struggle.
A source in the Algerian government said the comment about
Algeria’s existence as a nation had caused particular anger.
Algeria’s ruling elite since independence has been largely
drawn from veterans of its war of liberation from France.
“We understand Macron is on a campaign and that he wants to
get far-right support by all means, such as insulting Algeria’s
history… This is unacceptable to us,” a former Algerian
minister said.
France holds a presidential election next April.
READ MORE: France alarmed by radiation, a colonial legacy still lingering in Algeria
Visa row
The row comes on top of strains last week when France said
it would slash the number of visas available to citizens of
Maghreb countries – drawing a formal protest from Algeria.
France has about 5,000 troops in the Sahel region, south of Algeria, fighting alongside regional militaries against militant groups mainly in Mali and Niger.
READ MORE: Macron seeks forgiveness from Algerian ‘traitors’ who fought for colonisers
READ MORE: Algeria remembers mass killings under French rule, asks Paris to apologise
Source: Reuters
Algeria shuts airspace to French military as tension grows
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