The French far-right has escalated its rhetoric against Algeria, reiterating claims previously denied, while the Agence française de développement (AFD) has clarified it has no operational presence in the country. This intensification of attacks comes amidst a broader political discourse in France concerning foreign aid. The far-right current in France has intensified its attacks against Algeria, repeating long-denied falsehoods, particularly concerning financial assistance. The AFD, a key entity in French development cooperation, has specifically stated that it has never managed to operate in Algeria. The agency's clarification directly addresses the falsehoods that have been repeatedly circulated by segments of the French far-right current, which often target Algeria with unsubstantiated accusations.
Escalating Political Attacks
Sarah Knafo, a prominent figure on the French far-right, advanced a falsehood regarding French aid to Algeria in September 2024. This specific claim suggested that France was providing significant financial assistance to Algeria. Following this statement, Algeria promptly filed a formal complaint, showing its rejection of such narratives. The French Embassy in Algiers subsequently denied the false claim in February 2025, providing an official rebuttal to the circulating misinformation. More recently, Jordan Bardella, leader of the Rassemblement national, made new accusations which prompted a response from Karim Amellal, former ambassador to the Mediterranean.
Mr. Amellal stated that "L’aide publique au développement, comme déjà expliqué mille fois, est un levier inopérant : l’Algérie refuse toute aide extérieure et l’AFD n’a jamais réussi à opérer en Algérie (l’aide finance principalement des bourses pour les étudiants algériens en France)." This statement directly refuted the notion of French development aid flowing into Algeria. He also directly addressed Bardella, remarking, "Vos racines algériennes devraient vous conduire à étudier le sujet plus sérieusement." Regarding potential measures, Mr. Amellal added, "– suspendre ou réduire les visas (ce qui a deja été fait plusieurs fois, sans effet) ne vise que des citoyens algériens venant visiter leur famille en France (ou des étudiants), pas les autorités." His comments noted the ineffectiveness of certain diplomatic pressures and clarified the actual targets of visa restrictions.
AFD Director's Firm Rebuttal
Claims circulating in France suggest that hundreds of millions of euros are annually provided to Algeria as development aid from France. This assertion has been directly countered by official statements from both French and Algerian authorities. Algeria maintains a consistent policy of refusing all external aid, a stance reiterated by entities involved in development cooperation and by Algerian officials themselves. This policy fundamentally contradicts the claims of substantial French development aid. The Agence française de développement (AFD) has consistently affirmed that it has never managed to operate in Algeria, further debunking these persistent falsehoods.
In contrast to these claims, the Agence française de développement (AFD) has publicly confirmed the suspension of all its funded projects in Niger and Burkina Faso. This decision was made by French state authorities, citing political unrest in both West African nations. The AFD's operations in these countries have been directly impacted by governmental directives stemming from the political instability. For Niger and Burkina Faso, all AFD-funded projects have been suspended based on a decision by French state authorities due to the prevailing political unrest in these countries. This demonstrates the AFD's responsiveness to governmental directives in specific geopolitical contexts, distinct from its non-operational status in Algeria.
The discussion around aid and international relations also extends to visa policies. Measures such as the suspension or reduction of visas are described as specifically targeting Algerian citizens visiting family in France or students. These actions do not, however, target Algerian authorities. The distinction notes the specific segments of the population affected by such administrative decisions, aiming to clarify the scope and intent of these measures. The suspension or reduction of visas only targets Algerian citizens visiting family in France or students, not authorities, making it clear that these are not punitive measures against the Algerian government itself.
Context on Aid and Visas
Rémy Rioux, Director General of the Agence française de développement (AFD), directly addressed the ongoing accusations in July 2025, stating, "C’est un mensonge." Mr. Rioux was questioned about pressure from far-right and parts of the right wing, who accuse him of financially aiding countries hostile to France, such as Algeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali. He unequivocally denied these claims regarding Algeria, asserting, "En Algérie, l’AFD n’a pas d’activités." His firm denial aimed to put an end to the persistent and unfounded allegations.
Mr. Rioux further clarified the AFD's operational status in other nations mentioned by critics. He stated that in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, "tout a été suspendu." This suspension, he emphasized, occurred "sur la base d’une décision des autorités de l’État en France," indicating that the cessation of activities was a governmental directive and not a discretionary choice by the AFD. He challenged his accusers to provide substantiated evidence for their claims, remarking, "On ne peut pas me faire ce reproche, ou alors il faut le faire de façon argumentée."
Regarding the specific assertion that French aid primarily finances scholarships for Algerian students in France, Mr. Rioux offered a distinction. He noted that while such scholarships exist, they are not managed by the AFD. He clarified that this support is "ce n’est pas de l’AFD, c’est en fait une bourse pour les étudiants algériens en France, exclusivement." This statement differentiates the nature and source of funding from the development assistance typically provided by the AFD, noting that any financial support for Algerian students comes through different channels and is not part of the AFD's development aid portfolio. The mentioned aid primarily finances scholarships for Algerian students in France, a distinct form of support separate from development aid.