Frances Macron concludes Algeria visit with new pact | News [Video]

French President Emmanuel Macron and his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune have declared a “new, irreversible dynamic of progress” in their nations’ ties, concluding a visit by Macron aimed at ending months of tensions.

The three-day visit that ended on Saturday came less than two months after Algeria marked six decades of independence following 132 years of French rule and a devastating eight-year war.

It also came as European powers scrambled to replace Russian energy imports – including with supplies from Algeria, Africa’s top gas exporter, which in turn is seeking to expand its clout in North Africa and the Sahel.

In their joint declaration, the two leaders said “France and Algeria have decided to open a new era … laying the foundation for a renewed partnership expressed through a concrete and constructive approach, focused on future projects and youth.”

At the signing ceremony, Tebboune addressed his guest in French, gushing …