France has taken its most decisive step in more than a year to repair relations with Algeria, sending its ambassador back to Algiers and dispatching a senior minister to attend commemorations of a colonial-era massacre. Stéphane Romatet, recalled to Paris on 17 April 2025 after Algeria expelled a dozen French interior ministry agents, arrived in the capital on Friday alongside Alice Rufo, the minister delegate for defence and veterans’ affairs. The Élysée described the move as a gesture of “honesty” in bilateral ties and a bid to rebuild effective dialogue, a formulation that reflects the delicate calibration required on both sides of the Mediterranean.

The timing, coming on the anniversary of the bloody repression of pro-independence demonstrations in Sétif, Guelma and Kherrata in May 1945, was deliberate. Viewed from Paris, Rufo’s presence at the commemorations offers a chance to confront a painful legacy head-on, acknowledging the tens of thousands of Algerian deaths while framing the visit as part of a longer-term effort to place historical memory at the centre of rapprochement. Algerians, for their part, have long insisted that any genuine normalisation must begin with official recognition of past violence. The massacre, which remains a searing reference in Algeria’s national narrative, has often been a stumbling block in talks; by engaging with it publicly, French officials hope to drain some of the symbolic poison from the relationship.

The return of the ambassador caps a period of unusual tension. The original rupture occurred after Algiers expelled the French agents, accusing them of activities incompatible with diplomatic norms. In response, Paris recalled Romatet and imposed visa restrictions. The freeze hit trade, academic exchanges and security cooperation — particularly counter-terrorism in the Sahel, where both countries have overlapping interests. Analysts in London note that the thaw has been incremental, with lower-level visits and quiet phone calls preceding this week’s announcement. The decision now to restore full ambassadorial presence suggests both governments believe they have exhausted the utility of confrontation.

Yet the rapprochement remains fragile. Hardliners in Algeria’s military establishment and among France’s political right are sceptical of any concessions that might be read as weakness. European observers caution that the two sides have entered a phase of “prudent degel” — a carefully managed thaw — rather than a genuine transformation of relations. Much will depend on whether Paris follows through with more concrete steps, such as easing visa rules or reopening cultural institutes, and whether Algiers reciprocates by addressing French concerns over administrative harassment and media freedom. For now, both capitals have signalled a willingness to talk. That, after more than a year of silence, is itself a diplomatic achievement.