Algiers prefers Moscow

– The 24 last march, Algeria and France officially turned the page on their latest diplomatic quarrel. During a telephone interview, the Algerian and French presidents claimed to have cleared up the "misunderstandings" caused by the flight to Tunisia - the 3 February — then by his repatriation to France — on 6 of the same month — by the Franco-Algerian activist Amira Bouraoui. The affair had provoked the recall for consultation of the Algerian ambassador in Paris (1). In spring, it was therefore closed and the two capitals were officially preparing an official visit by Mr.. Abdelmadjid Tebboune in Paris who would have symbolized the good understanding with his French counterpart. Promis, sworn, assured the diplomats of the two camps, new joint economic projects are sure to be announced. Three months later, none of this has materialized and no date has been set for the visit of the Algerian president. The latter went to Moscow instead, where he was received with great pomp by Mr.. Vladimir Poutine, with the signature of several agreements renewing the Algerian-Russian strategic partnership concluded in 2001. With this move, M. Tebboune sends a clear message to the West : his country, like so many others in the South, will not align with the position of Europe and the United States regarding the conflict in Ukraine (2). Other implied diplomatic message : Algeria assumes the role of potential intermediary between Russia and its despisers. It is therefore with this outfit that M. Tebboune may end up going to France. Unless Paris provokes a new crisis by deciding to condemn the repression which rages against any critical voice in Algeria. The 18 June, the Algiers Court of Appeal thus aggravated the conviction of M. Ihsane El Kadi, independent media figure, to seven years in prison, of which five years firm, for "foreign financing of his press company" (five years in prison, two of which are suspended, in the first place).

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