Mali, Libya crises to top agenda as Hollande visits Algeria
June 15, 2015
Mutual concern over the growth of militant groups in north Africa has trumped previous tensions between Paris and Algiers
French President Francois Hollande heads to Algeria on Monday as the two nations, once bitter foes, work ever closer to resolve the political turmoil and militant threat in Mali and Libya.
The trip will be Hollande's second to Algiers since a 2012 visit during which he recognised France's century of "brutal" rule over the Algerian people which ended in a bloody independence war.
While some prickly issues remain between the two countries - such as Hollande's refusal to apologise for crimes under colonial rule - the mutual concern over the growth of militant groups in north Africa has taken the upper hand.
Algeria shares a border with Mali's north, which is still fragile after a French-led operation in 2013 ousted militants who had seized the upper half of the west African nation.
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