Xavier Driencourt’s Unfounded Criticism of Algeria: A Diplomat’s Failed Maneuver Against National Sovereignty

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | November 13th, 2024 — In a recent interview with Moroccan television channel “Medi 1,” Xavier Driencourt, the former French Ambassador to Algeria, has once again unleashed a series of contentious and unfounded criticisms aimed at Algeria’s foreign policy and national identity. Driencourt’s remarks not only betray a lack of diplomatic restraint but also reveal his deeper frustration with Algeria’s resolute stance on its sovereignty and historical narrative.

Driencourt, who served as the French envoy to Algeria during a particularly sensitive period, claimed that President Emmanuel Macron’s pivot towards Morocco was a result of his alleged failure to reconcile with Algeria. According to Driencourt, Macron’s ambitious efforts to restore ties with Algeria, which included symbolic gestures like acknowledging the colonial crimes of France and returning the remains of Algerian resistance fighters, were met with nothing but “resistance” and “stubbornness” from the Algerian leadership. Yet, in his recounting, Driencourt conveniently omits the fact that Algeria’s demands were not simply about diplomatic niceties, but rooted in the unresolved wounds of colonial history and France’s failure to address them adequately.

Driencourt’s narrative is notably one-sided, portraying France’s overtures as magnanimous and Algeria’s responses as nothing short of intransigence. In his analysis, Driencourt not only exaggerates Macron’s supposed “generosity” but also undermines Algeria’s legitimate concerns regarding its colonial past. It is a known fact that France, despite a series of formal gestures, has yet to fully atone for its brutal colonial legacy in Algeria, a nation that endured over a century of exploitation, violence, and systemic cultural erasure. Driencourt’s attempt to cast this as a diplomatic failure on Algeria’s part is an insult to the collective memory of the Algerian people.

Furthermore, Driencourt’s attempt to compare France’s failed reconciliation efforts with Algeria to the rapid normalization of relations with Morocco is not only misleading but reflects a lack of understanding—or perhaps a deliberate disregard—for the complexities of Algerian foreign policy. The three-year diplomatic rupture between France and Morocco, as Driencourt acknowledges, was caused by an espionage scandal involving the Moroccan intelligence services, not merely political maneuvering. It was France’s own breach of trust with Morocco that led to this temporary rift, yet Driencourt chooses to ignore this inconvenient truth in favor of painting a picture of French benevolence and Algerian obstinacy.

Moreover, Driencourt’s comments regarding the “memory file” and visa issues once again highlight his disregard for Algeria’s legitimate right to address the injustices committed by France. The 2005 French law that celebrated colonialism was not just a legislative error; it was a deliberate affront to the dignity of Algerians, and its aftermath has caused irreversible harm to Franco-Algerian relations. Algeria’s demand for France to acknowledge its crimes against humanity is not a mere political tactic but a moral obligation. Driencourt’s attempt to downplay this issue speaks volumes about the lingering French attitude of denial and arrogance when it comes to its colonial history.

In his interview, Driencourt also emphasized the persistence of anti-French rhetoric in Algeria, accusing the country of fostering a climate of nationalism that is hostile to France. While it is true that Algeria continues to remember its liberation struggle, this is far from an irrational or hostile position. It is a celebration of a hard-won independence, a reflection of the nation’s resilience, and a defiance against the historical erasure attempted by former colonial powers. To suggest that Algeria should abandon its revolutionary memory for the sake of diplomacy is not only naive but also offensive.

Driencourt’s account of his time in Algeria is laced with condescension, as he describes the country as a place of constant traps and hidden dangers. His remarks about the Algerian leadership’s caution in diplomatic interactions reveal more about his own frustrations than any true understanding of Algeria’s national interests. His assertion that Algerians should forget their history and accept France’s incomplete gestures of atonement only reinforces the gulf between French and Algerian worldviews.

It is clear that Driencourt’s comments are an exercise in self-justification rather than honest diplomacy. His claims of French goodwill and Algerian ingratitude reveal a deep-seated reluctance within certain French circles to genuinely engage with Algeria’s post-colonial reality. Rather than recognizing the complexities of a nation that has struggled for independence and sovereignty, Driencourt’s commentary falls into the trap of blaming the victim for the crimes committed against it.

In conclusion, Driencourt’s remarks are not only an affront to Algeria’s dignity but also an embarrassing display of France’s inability to face its colonial past. Algeria’s continued resistance to French diplomatic overtures is not born out of an unwillingness to engage, but rather out of a justified demand for justice, recognition, and respect. Until France fully comes to terms with its past and addresses the deep wounds it left in Algeria, any attempts at reconciliation will remain hollow and futile.

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