Algeria’s upper house, the Council of the Nation, announced on Monday the immediate termination of its relations with the French Senate, including the cessation of the parliamentary cooperation protocol signed on September 8, 2015.
The decision was made in response to a recent visit by French Senate Speaker Gérard Larcher to El Aaiún, the main city in Western Sahara controlled by the partially recognized Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).
In an official statement, the Council of the Nation condemned the visit, describing it as “a concerning and extreme incident” that reflects the growing influence of far-right forces in France. The statement asserted that the visit “disregards international legitimacy” and “sharply contradicts” United Nations Security Council resolutions intended to uphold human rights and the right of colonized peoples to self-determination. Under the leadership of Salah Goudjil, the Council held France responsible for what it termed a “provocative and ostentatious” act tied to colonial policies and biased decision-making.
The move follows long-standing tensions over the Western Sahara issue—a dispute that has strained relations between Algeria and Morocco for decades. The conflict dates back to 1975 after Spain’s withdrawal from the territory, when Morocco and the pro-independence Polisario Front entered into a bitter struggle that eventually led to a ceasefire in 1991. While Morocco claims sovereignty over most of Western Sahara and proposes extensive autonomy for the region, the Polisario Front, which is supported by Algeria, advocates for a referendum on self-determination. The United Nations does not recognize the sovereignty claims of either party.
Algerian officials stressed that the decision to cut ties with the French Senate was a direct reaction to the visit, which they believe undermines international norms and the UN Charter. The termination of this longstanding parliamentary cooperation marks a significant diplomatic rift, highlighting the sensitivity of the Western Sahara issue in regional geopolitics.
As tensions continue to simmer, the move is expected to have broader implications for bilateral relations between Algeria and France, as well as for international discussions on decolonization and self-determination in disputed territories.
President Donald Trump said Iran is keen to reach a deal with the United States, claiming Washington had paused engagement to allow funeral ceremonies...
French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to use next week's NATO summit in Ankara to advance his push for greater European responsibility in secur...
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 4 July, covering the latest developments you need to know....
Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated U.S. President Donald Trump on the 250th anniversary of American independence, saying Russia and th...
China said on Saturday it had launched a coast guard patrol east of Taiwan, prompting a strong protest from Taipei, which accused Beijing of illegally...
From Cristiano Ronaldo’s record-breaking night in Houston to England’s frustrating draw in Boston and Algeria’s comeback win in San Francisco, the FIFA World Cup 2026 delivered another packed day of action.
One person has died and eight others were injured after a stampede at a crowded fan gathering in central Amman during Jordan’s World Cup match against Algeria, authorities said.
Pope Leo XIV is set to make history this April, becoming the first pontiff ever to visit Algeria. The trip forms part of a wider African tour, taking him to Angola, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon from 13–23 April, and marks his first major overseas trip of 2026.
Xi Jinping praised China–Algeria co-operation on Saturday following the successful launch of an Algerian remote sensing satellite from northwest China, calling it another milestone in bilateral space ties.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has raised its forecast for the rapid emergence of a strong El Niño, warning the climate pattern is likely to drive higher global temperatures and intensify extreme weather in the months ahead.
India is investigating a data breach at Tata Electronics that exposed sensitive documents linked to Apple's unreleased iPhone 18 Pro, marking the government's first public comments on the incident.
Iran and the U.S. have concluded indirect talks in Doha without a major breakthrough, with discussions focused on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and frozen Iranian funds. Both sides are expected to meet again after the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
International politicians and religious leaders have paid respects to Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei throughout the day, ahead of his six day funeral ceremony which begins on Saturday. His casket is currently on display at the Iman Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran.
Germany has requested urgent talks with China's ambassador following reports that Chinese authorities trained Russian soldiers, adding fresh strain to relations between Beijing and Europe amid the war in Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to use next week's NATO summit in Ankara to advance his push for greater European responsibility in security, with a bilateral meeting planned with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as Paris seeks closer coordination with key allies.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated U.S. President Donald Trump on the 250th anniversary of American independence, saying Russia and the United States share a special responsibility for maintaining global security as the world's two largest nuclear powers.
China said on Saturday it had launched a coast guard patrol east of Taiwan, prompting a strong protest from Taipei, which accused Beijing of illegally expanding its authority and undermining regional stability.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 4 July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Russian attacks killed at least six people across three Ukrainian regions on Friday, regional officials said, as Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure continued to add pressure to fuel supplies inside Russia.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment