The shift follows high-level talks in Algiers between French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, where both countries agreed to “reactivate a high-level security cooperation mechanism.”
According to French officials, the agreement will restore intelligence sharing, judicial coordination, and policing collaboration after months of diplomatic strain.
The reset comes at a critical time for France, which has been forced to withdraw troops from key Sahel nations including Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso – the three military-led governments that now form the AES bloc.
These governments expelled French forces amid accusations of failed security outcomes and growing nationalist sentiment.
Algeria’s geographic position makes it central to France’s recalibrated Africa strategy. The country shares long and porous borders with both Mali and Niger, placing it at the frontline of regional counterterrorism efforts and making it an essential intelligence partner for monitoring extremist activity across the Sahel.
France adapts strategy as global powers compete for Sahel influence
Rather than pursuing direct military deployments, France now appears to be shifting toward indirect security engagement through regional allies. Nuñez said both countries had agreed to restore cooperation “as quickly as possible” and at “a very high level,” covering intelligence, counterterrorism, and migration enforcement.
France’s renewed engagement comes amid intensifying geopolitical competition in Africa, with Russia expanding its security presence and China strengthening economic and infrastructure partnerships across the continent.
The United States has also increased military cooperation with several African countries, reflecting the continent’s growing strategic importance.
For France, rebuilding ties with Algeria offers a potential pathway to maintain intelligence visibility near AES territories without deploying troops directly inside those countries.
Security analysts say such partnerships allow Paris to remain operationally relevant while avoiding the political resistance that led to its expulsion.
The move signals a broader transformation in France’s Africa policy, as it seeks to rebuild influence through diplomacy, intelligence cooperation, and regional partnerships rather than permanent military bases.
Images released by Algerian authorities showed senior security officials from both countries in attendance, including France’s domestic intelligence chief and Algeria’s internal security head. The visit comes after strained ties triggered by France’s 2024 backing of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, a position opposed by Algeria.
