Three months after being recalled amid tensions related to the era of French colonial rule in the North African country, Algeria’s ambassador returned to Paris on Thursday in a move announced the day before by Algeria’s presidency.
Citing alleged “irresponsible comments” by French President Emmanuel Macron about Algeria’s pre-colonial history and post-colonial system of government, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune recalled Ambassador Antar Daoud for “consultations” in October.
Algeria also refused permission for France to fly military planes in its airspace and accused Paris of “genocide” during the colonial era.
By paying a visit to Algiers last month, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian sought to defuse bilateral tensions. The countries agreed to resume cooperation toward peace in Libya and on other international issues.
Following more than a century under French colonial rule, Algeria gained independence after a brutal six-year war from 1954 to 1962.
Relations took a sharp turn for the worse between the two countries, which have had close economic and cultural ties, after France sharply curtailed visas for people from North Africa because governments there were refusing to take back migrants refused asylum in France.
