French President Emmanuel Macron meets athletes and artists in Algeria’s second city Oran on Saturday before concluding his visit with a “new pact” aimed at healing ties with the former French colony.
The three-day visit has aimed to turn the page on months of tensions with the North African country, which earlier this year marked six decades of independence following 132 years of French rule.
It also comes as European powers scramble to replace Russian energy imports — including with supplies from Algeria, Africa’s top gas exporter, which in turn is seeking a greater regional role.
Macron is set to visit a hilltop chapel and an iconic record shop in Oran, the spiritual home of Rai music, before meeting young people and athletes and watching a breakdancing performance.
He and his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune are later set to sign “a joint declaration for a renewed, concrete and ambitious partnership”, according to the French presidency.
On Friday…
Source: Guardian Newspaper
