On May 26, 2026, the French ambassador to Algeria, Stéphane Romatet, publicly condemned recent Algerian attacks against French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, following his visit to Morocco. Romatet described the Algerian statements as 'unacceptable' in a post on X (formerly Twitter), escalating a diplomatic dispute between the two countries.
The controversy began after Barrot's visit to Morocco on May 24-25, 2026, where he met with Moroccan officials to discuss bilateral cooperation. In response, Algerian state media and officials criticized Barrot, accusing France of interfering in Algeria's internal affairs and undermining its position on Western Sahara. The Algerian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on May 25 calling Barrot's remarks 'provocative and irresponsible.'
Romatet's response on May 26 defended Barrot, stating that the minister's comments were 'in full respect of international law' and that Algeria's reaction was 'disproportionate and unfounded.' He emphasized that France maintains a balanced approach to the region and rejects any attempts to dictate its foreign policy.
This incident highlights ongoing tensions between France and Algeria, rooted in historical colonial issues and disagreements over Western Sahara. France has traditionally supported Morocco's autonomy plan for the disputed territory, while Algeria backs the Polisario Front's call for independence. The diplomatic spat is expected to be discussed at upcoming EU-Algeria talks scheduled for June 2026.
