President François Hollande in Algiers on 19 - 20 December

This visit has been extremely well prepared with visits by six ministers and a carefully orchestrated move towards a full reconciliation with Algeria including the President's statement acknowledging the deaths of Algerians at the hands of French police in Paris on 17 October 1961.

Until now France has not come to terms officially with the actions during the Algerian War of Independence and both sides recognise that President Hollande's visit is a chance to begin a new relationship which is not overshadowed by the past. The potential  commercial benefits for both countries has been recognised by both sides. France has more than 5 million French citizens of Arab origin of which the largest number are originally from  Algeria.