Media Wire

Algeria, Morocco furious over French visa restriction plan

Algeria and Morocco have criticized French decision to slash the number of visas available to nationals from Maghreb countries. Algiers went further and summoned the Paris ambassador in protest.

Morocco and Algeria have expressed their dismay at France’s decision to reduce the number of visas granted to nationals from Maghreb countries.

France on Tuesday announced it would sharply reduce the number of visas granted to people from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, accusing the former French colonies of not doing enough to allow illegal immigrants to return.

The move prompted Algiers to summon French ambassador Francois Gouyette and hand him “a formal protest” on Wednesday, the foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that the visa reduction caused “confusion and ambiguity as to its motivation and its scope”.

In neighbouring Morocco, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita told reporters the French decision was “unjustified” and “does not reflect the reality of consular cooperation in the fight against irregular migration”.
Unlike its neighbours, Tunisia has not reacted officially, but many of its citizens displayed their concern Wednesday in front of the offices of TLS Contact, the only private company authorised to receive applications for France.

On Tuesday, French government spokesman Gabriel Attal told Europe 1 radio that it was “a drastic decision, and unprecedented, but one made necessary by the fact that these countries are refusing to take back nationals who we do not want or cannot keep in France”.

The station reported French President Emmanuel Macron took the decision a month ago after failed diplomatic efforts with the three North African countries.

IFP Media Wire

Reports and views published in the Media Wire section have been retrieved from other news agencies and websites, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Iran Front Page (IFP) news website. The IFP may change the headlines of the reports in a bid to make them compatible with its own style of covering Iran News, and does not make any changes to the content. The source and URL of all reports and news stories are mentioned at the bottom of each article.

Recent Posts

Iran hands death sentences to 3 Israel spies over their role in nuclear scientist assassination

An Iranian court has sentenced three individuals affiliated with Israel to death after they were…

3 hours ago

Iran says to respond to Israel’s assault at appropriate time

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has warned that Tehran will give a proper response…

3 hours ago

Judiciary: Jamshid Sharmahd dies before execution of death sentence

A spokesperson for Iran’s Judiciary announced that Jamshid Sharmahd, leader of the “Tondar” terrorist group…

3 hours ago

Israeli PM considers offering millions to Hamas for release of hostages

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has proposed offering Hamas “several million dollars” for each Israeli…

3 hours ago

Israel’s army struggling with shortage of soldiers: Report

Israel’s military is facing a critical manpower problem as it runs short of thousands of…

3 hours ago

Iranians in Europe protest against EU sanctions on Iran Air

Iranians residing in Europe have launched an online petition to protest the European Union and…

3 hours ago