Memorial sequence for the beginnings of Elisabeth Borne in Algeria

French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne pays tribute to the Martyr's Memorial in Algiers, Sunday October 9, 2022. AFP - ALAIN JOCARD

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The French Prime Minister arrived this Sunday, October 9 in Algiers.

Fifteen ministers accompany him for this first meeting with the Algerian government after five years of blockages.

Almost two months after Emmanuel Macron's visit, Elisabeth Borne came to continue the warming.

She began her journey with a memorial sequence.

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With our special correspondent in Algiers,

Barely got off the plane, Elisabeth Borne's procession sped off towards the Martyr's Memorial, a must for the Algerian authorities.

This huge monument on the heights of the city pays tribute to the Algerian fighters who died during the war of independence.

Second essential step for the other side of the Mediterranean: the European cemetery, where the French dead are buried.

Unmissable stages at the Martyr's Memorial and the European Cemetery, before starting the High-Level Intergovernmental Committee, the 1st for 5 years, after 3 postponements and a last-minute cancellation under Jean Castex pic.twitter.com/8e9C6Jl6Su

— Julien Chavanne (@julien_chavanne) October 9, 2022

Before talking about visa policy, gas deliveries and memory work, Elisabeth Borne was thus immersed directly in the still painful past between the two countries.

Elizabeth Borne's first steps in Algiers

Julien Chavanne

Algerian expectations 

The revival of economic cooperation will be the central axis of this first trip abroad.

On the Algerian side, Algerian expectations are numerous.

With our correspondent in Algiers,

We are far from the reduced format of the delegation which was to accompany Jean Castex, ex-Prime Minister, in April 2021 and which provoked the anger of Algiers and the postponement of the meeting of the High Level Intergovernmental Committee (CIHN).

This committee, which is chaired by the Prime Ministers of the two countries, is meeting for the fifth time on the occasion of Mrs. Borne's visit to, in particular, study economic cooperation.

►Read again: Elisabeth Borne in Algiers to try to achieve a Franco-Algerian reconciliation

Algeria, which refuses to be considered as a simple market for French products, wants more commitments from Paris in terms of investment, particularly in the sectors of industry, digital technology, pharmaceutical production and the energy transition.

In recent years, Turkish, Chinese, Qatari and Italian investments have become more important than those of France.

Algerian Prime Minister Aymen Benabderrahmane and his French counterpart Élisabeth Borne, on the arrival of the latter in Algiers this Sunday, October 9, 2022. AFP - ALAIN JOCARD

Regarding mobility and the movement of people, Algiers is waiting for Paris to reconsider its decision to reduce the number of visas for Algerians by 50% as a sign of protest against Algeria's refusal to repatriate Algerians in an irregular situation to France.

The question of memory is not left out.

Algeria, which is in favor of the creation of a joint committee made up of historians from the two countries, is still asking for the restitution by France of all the archives and compensation for the victims of the French nuclear tests in the Algerian Sahara.

►Listen also: French ministerial visit to Algiers

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