Diplomats and sources in the fertilizer sector said that Algeria issued instructions to urea producers to stop exporting it to France, in a tightening of trade restrictions that followed a diplomatic dispute between the two countries, according to what Reuters reported today (Friday).
Relations between Paris and Algeria, which had been complicated for decades, deteriorated in 2024 when French President Emmanuel Macron supported an autonomy plan for the Sahara region under Moroccan sovereignty. The two countries sought to repair relations last year, and at one point even announced that relations had returned to normal, but relations subsequently became strained again.
The French Fertilizer Association (AFCOM) and the Wheat Growers Group (AGPP) said that information about stopping urea exports spread early last week, which could jeopardize Algeria’s supplies, which represent about 30 percent of France’s urea imports. Three diplomats said they were aware of Algerian instructions to suspend urea shipments to France. These three were among six French and European diplomats who also said that Algeria imposed an almost comprehensive ban on French imports in late July.
Any disruption in urea supplies from Algeria may raise concerns again among French farmers, who rely on nitrogen-based fertilizers to maintain crop yields, and are already facing rising costs. In addition to the agricultural impact, this dispute may become politically thorny for the government of President Emmanuel Macron, which is under pressure to protect families and producers from rising costs, while dealing with the sharp deterioration in relations with Algeria, an issue that often polarizes the French political scene.
Early last week, France witnessed some of the worst unrest in years, and a potential confrontation with farmers over fertilizer supplies could increase these pressures. As happened with previous trade restrictions, including stopping Algeria’s imports of French wheat since 2024, the sources said that no official announcement has been issued by the Algerian government regarding urea exports, or imports of French goods.
New Israeli talk about facilitating the displacement of the population of the Gaza Strip brings tension back to the forefront with Egypt, which rejects any attempts to push the Palestinians to leave their lands, and has previously considered this a “red line” for it.
According to experts who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat, the continued Israeli assertions clash with the Arab and Egyptian position rejecting displacement, and they also aim to provoke Egypt after recent statements made by ministers in the extreme right-wing government about the occupation of Sinai, which would exacerbate the existing tension with Cairo since the outbreak of the war in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he is “personally working to facilitate the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip,” and said in his statements on Thursday: “There are talks being held with countries that are ready to receive them.” He went on to say: “Every Palestinian in Gaza must be free to leave.” He pointed out that "the difficulty lies in finding countries that agree to receive the departures."
A new Ethiopian announcement, on Friday, about the opening of a new dam for the purpose of development, came coinciding with deep disagreements between Cairo and Addis Ababa regarding the “Renaissance Dam” and the refusal to establish any new dams. The dam, known as “Megic,” has a storage capacity of 185 million cubic meters, and is expected to provide irrigation water for more than 17,000 hectares of agricultural land. Former Egyptian Minister of Irrigation, Hossam Maghazi, confirmed that this dam is located outside the scope of the Blue Nile Basin and does not affect Egypt’s water share.
