France’s Macron arrives in Algeria on visit aimed at fixing ties

France's President Emmanuel Macron visits the Disco Maghreb music store in Oran, a home to Algeria's rai music, to meet its owner Boualem Benhaoua. AFP

A gift for France's President Emmanuel Macron from Boualem Benhaoua, owner of Oran's Disco Maghreb music store. AFP

France's President Emmanuel Macron checks out an audio tape as Disco Maghreb owner Boualem Benhaoua and France's former culture minister and Arab World Institute President Jack Lang look on. AFP

Emmanuel Macron and Algiers' Catholic archbishop Mgr Jean-Paul Vesco during the French president's visit to the chapel at the Santa Cruz fortress in Oran. AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, speaks with Imam of the Great Mosque of Algiers Mohamed Mamoun El-Kacimi El-Hassani, during a visit to the Great Mosque. AFP

Mr Macron, Algerian Foreign Affairs Minister Ramtane Lamamra, second left, and the imam during the tour of the Great Mosque. AFP

With Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, third right, and some of the country's top generals and senior security officials, at the presidential residence in Zeralda. AFP

Laying a wreath at the monument to the 'dead for France' during his visit to the European Saint-Eugene cemetery in Algiers. Mr Macron started a three-day visit to Algeria on August 25 to help mend ties with the former French colony. AFP

Mr Macron, left, and French film director Alexandre Arcady visit the Christian cemetery of Saint-Eugene in Algiers on August 26, 2022. AFP

President Macron during the visit to the European Saint-Eugene cemetery in Algiers. AFP

Emmanuel Macron speaks at the presidential palace in the Algerian capital, Algiers. AFP

Mr Macron with Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune at the presidential palace. AFP

Mr Macron attends a banquet hosted by Mr Tebboune. AFP

The French president is on a three-day visit to Algeria.

The visit is intended to help mend ties with the former French colony. AFP

Algeria this year marks the 60th anniversary of its independence from France. AP

The French president reviews troops before talks with the Algerian leader. EPA

Mr Macron was also expected to discuss boosting future economic relations. AP

Laying a floral wreath at the Martyrs Monument in Algiers. AFP

Mr Macron at a viewpoint overlooking the Bay of Algiers during his visit to the Martyrs Monument. AFP

Mr Macron, accompanied by Algeria's Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra, on the visit to the Martyrs' Monument. AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron is welcomed by Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in Algiers. AFP

Mr Macron and Mr Tebboune review a guard of honour at Algiers International Airport. AFP

The visit comes less than a year after a month-long diplomatic crisis between the two countries stirred up tensions. AFP

Mr Macron said he hopes the visit will 'lay a foundation to rebuild and develop' often fraught ties with Algeria. AFP

Mr Macron and Mr Tebboune in discussion at the airport VIP lounge. AFP

Mr Macron is accompanied by seven ministers for the visit. AFP

France's President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Algeria on Thursday for a three-day visit aimed at mending ties with the former French colony, which this year marked 60 years of independence.

Mr Macron landed at 3.30pm local time at Houari Boumediene Airport, where he was received by his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

The two leaders, who wore masks as part of Covid-19 health measures, shook hands and hugged each other at the airport before their countries’ national anthems were played.

After talks with Mr Tebboune at the airport, Mr Macron visited a monument to martyrs of the country's war for independence, which ended more than 130 years of French colonial rule in 1962.

Accompanied by Algeria's top diplomat Ramtane Lamamra, the French president laid a wreath at the site and observed a minute of silence, Algerian state news agency APS reported.

Mr Macron, who will meet entrepreneurs in Algiers as well as young people in Oran, Algeria's second city, is accompanied by a delegation comprising about 90 officials.

His visit comes as Russia's war on Ukraine has caused a gas supply crisis across Europe, increasing the continent's demand for energy supplies from North African producers such as Algeria.

Franco-Algerian relations have experienced repeated crises since independence.

Last year, the two nations got into a diplomatic spat when the French president accused Algerian leaders of “rewriting history” of their independence from colonial rule.

On his second visit to Algeria since he took power in 2017, the French leader “has chosen to direct this visit towards the future, [focusing on] start-ups, innovation, youth, new sectors”, his office said.

Algerian media said Mr Macron's visit showed both countries' desire for relations built on “a new vision based on equal treatment and balance of interests”.

It also reflected “a recognition of Algeria's central role in the region” and the country's “return to the international scene”.

France is home to about four million people of Algerian origin.