French Ambassador to Algeria, Stéphane Romatet, made statements concerning visas for Algerians, which have sparked internal controversy. Former French Ambassador to Algeria, Xavier Driencourt, claimed Romatet was acting on a "mandate" directly from higher authorities, specifically President Emmanuel Macron. Driencourt's assertion was that Ambassador Romatet's actions were a direct consequence of this presidential directive. Romatet's statements led to sharp criticism and subsequently prompted a correction from the Élysée Palace in Paris, signaling official disapproval of the ambassador's public remarks.
Ambassador's Stated Mission
Former French Ambassador to Algeria, Xavier Driencourt, stated in a contribution published on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, on the website of the newspaper "Le Journal du Dimanche," that Ambassador Stéphane Romatet returned to Algeria with a clear mandate from President Emmanuel Macron. According to Driencourt, this mandate specifically aimed to restore relations between France and Algeria and to return the number of visas issued to Algerian citizens to pre-crisis levels, which totaled 250,000 annually. Romatet's public statement confirmed this objective, explicitly mentioning the goal of issuing 250,000 visas from the three French consulates in Algeria. The Ambassador also confirmed he received this mandate directly from President Macron, implying significant involvement from both the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior in this policy directive. Driencourt further asserted that Romatet's statements could not have been made without prior consultation with his superiors in Paris, particularly given the sensitive nature of relations with Algeria. This perspective effectively refutes any suggestion that the statements originated from suggestions by the host country or were an independent initiative by the ambassador.
Internal French Backlash
Criticism against Ambassador Stéphane Romatet's visa statements emerged swiftly and decisively from within the French government. Benjamin Haddad, Minister Delegate for Europe in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, voiced his disapproval regarding the ambassador's public declarations. Naima M'Chou, Minister of Overseas Territories, also criticized the ambassador's remarks, indicating a broad governmental concern. Jean-Noël Barrot, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, similarly joined the chorus of critics regarding Romatet's public declarations, showing the severity of the internal discord. President Emmanuel Macron subsequently tasked government spokesperson Maud Bregeon with publicly denying the French Ambassador's statements during a cabinet meeting, signaling Paris's official stance on the matter and attempting to clarify the government's position. This collective response from multiple high-ranking government officials showed the internal discord generated by Romatet's comments on visa policy for Algerian citizens, noting a significant divergence from the official line.
Context and Algerian Perspective
Xavier Driencourt, former French Ambassador to Algeria, questioned the sensitivity surrounding the visa issue in Algeria, asserting that the substantial Algerian community residing in France places significant obligations on Paris regarding such matters. Meanwhile, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune described the controversy over the French ambassador's visa statements as a "French-French issue." President Tebboune, speaking at a recent meeting with media, emphasized that Algeria had no involvement in the dispute, effectively distancing his country from the internal French political fallout. This stance suggests that while the visa issue is important to Algeria, the specific diplomatic row is viewed as an internal affair for France to resolve.
Diplomatic Status and Future
Despite the significant internal controversy and public denials from Paris, French authorities have not announced the dismissal of Ambassador Stéphane Romatet. Romatet has not voluntarily resigned from his post in Algeria. The ambassador's status remains unchanged despite the internal controversy surrounding his statements on visa policy for Algerian citizens, leaving his diplomatic future in the balance amid ongoing discussions. The absence of an official change in his position indicates a complex situation within French diplomacy concerning its relations with Algeria.