The French Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin, will travel to Algiers on Monday to discuss several sensitive issues related to judicial cooperation between the two countries with Algerian authorities. This visit comes amid still fragile relations between Paris and Algiers after nearly two years of heightened diplomatic tensions.
Among the issues to be addressed is the case of French journalist Christophe Gleizes, detained for nearly a year in Algeria following a report he produced in Kabylie. The journalist, a contributor to So Foot and Society, was placed under judicial supervision and subsequently convicted in a case related to past exchanges with an individual associated with the MAK, a Kabyle independence movement classified as a terrorist organization by Algiers since 2021.
A trip in a still tense diplomatic climate
Gérald Darmanin's visit is interpreted as a further sign of an attempt to improve relations between the two countries. Franco-Algerian relations remain deeply strained by several recent disputes, notably concerning Western Sahara, the deportation of nationals subject to deportation orders, certain consular matters, and security and counter-terrorism cooperation.
According to several French media outlets, the discussions are also expected to cover extradition requests, the exchange of judicial information, and issues related to the fight against drug trafficking and terrorism. Paris has been seeking for several months to re-establish smoother channels of cooperation with Algiers on these strategic matters.
The Christophe Gleizes case has become highly symbolic
The Christophe Gleizes affair has become a symbol of the current tensions between the two countries. The French journalist was arrested in 2024 while working on a report about Algerian football and the JS Kabylie club. Algerian authorities accuse him of having had exchanges dating back several years with figures linked to the Kabyle independence movement.
In recent weeks, several signs of easing tensions had been observed in the case, notably his transfer to a prison closer to Algiers and the possibility of a presidential pardon. Gérald Darmanin's visit could now help accelerate certain diplomatic discussions regarding his case.
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