Ségolène Royal, President of the France-Algeria Association (AFA) and a former French cabinet minister, recently undertook a working visit to Algeria. Invited by the Algerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACI) and the Franco-Algerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIAF), she engaged with a range of economic stakeholders, including nascent enterprise leaders. Royal articulated a favorable assessment of Algeria's substantial progress in recent years, remarking upon the discernible transformation since her prior engagement as Minister of the Environment in 2016.
**Catalyzing Economic Cooperation**
Royal underscored the imperative for France to acknowledge Algeria's demonstrable advancements, particularly given its diversified global affiliations. She deplored the near-complete impasse in reciprocal economic interactions over the preceding two years, affirming her intent to convey a comprehensive account of her visit to President Emmanuel Macron to advocate for the initiation of renewed collaborative efforts. Furthermore, she expressed her resolve to foster a reciprocal visit by the head of the French business federation (MEDEF) to re-establish dialogue after a two-year suspension.
**Addressing the Historical Record: A Foundation for Future Prospects**
Royal further asserted that confronting matters pertaining to the shared historical narrative between France and Algeria constitutes a prerequisite for advancing future relations. She urged France to undertake a demonstrable act of acknowledgment, formally entailing: the repatriation of cultural artifacts, archival materials, and the historic "Canon d'Alger"; the repatriation of ancestral human remains presently housed at the Musée de l'Homme for appropriate interment; and commencing thorough investigations into the legacy of French nuclear testing in the Algerian Sahara, given its enduring public health ramifications. She noted two propitious legislative advancements: the French Senate's endorsement of legislation facilitating the return of cultural assets, and a parliamentary amendment mandating the disclosure of comprehensive data on its nuclear tests within a six-month timeframe.
**A Symbolic Diplomatic Gesture**
In a symbolic gesture, Royal regarded the Algerian Minister of Justice's engagement with the detained French journalist, Christophe Gleizes, as a "constructive development" and a "significant indicator," effectively culminating a productive itinerary.
**Concluding Imperatives: Action Rooted in Humility and Sincerity**
Royal concluded her address by underscoring that the mutual benefit of both nations resides in cultivating a constructive economic collaboration. She posited that France, as the former colonial entity, must embrace its historical obligations and initiate this progression. She further elucidated that confronting historical realities facilitates not only rapprochement but also forges a renewed cooperative framework that harnesses the comprehensive potential spanning the Mediterranean basin.
This visit, for Royal, transcended the typical parameters of a diplomatic mission; instead, it served as a crucial occasion to gauge the dynamics of the intricate bilateral relationship and to articulate an unambiguous directive: the imperative to advance with resolve and modesty.