"French lessons, media library, tours, meetings with artisans... not to mention a few surprises and a live concert." With this program posted on Facebook, the French Institute of Algeria, which promotes French language and culture, hoped to use its open house on Saturday, September 27, in Algiers to attract a broader audience. This charm offensive – just days after the start of the school and university year – took on particular significance amid the diplomatic crisis that has pitted France and Algeria against each other for over a year.
The French Institute of Algeria was not granted permission in 2025 to host a stand at the Algiers International Book Fair, the major literary event organized by Algeria's Ministry of Culture whose 28th edition is set to open on October 29. This tension has also been reflected in the waning interest in learning French; the number of students enrolled in courses offered by the five branches of the French Institute has gradually declined, from 18,000 learners in 2022 to around 16,000 in 2024.
This downturn extends beyond education. Since mid-April, the airline Air Algérie has stopped issuing tickets in French, using English and Arabic instead – even though France remains its largest foreign market. In August, Algérie Télécom followed suit, announcing that its bills and payment receipts would henceforth be written in Arabic and English, as part of a "modernization of its service offerings."
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