Outrage as France slashes North African Countries Visa Quotas

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France slashes North African Countries Visa Quotas

France has reduced the number of visas given to Tunisians, Moroccans, and Algerians on Tuesday. France blamed the former French colonies for not making enough efforts to allow illegal immigrants to return.

On Tuesday, French Government Spokesman Gabriel Attal said the decision was “dramatic and unusual,” but that it was “necessary” since “these nations refuse to accept back nationals who we do not want or cannot keep in France.”

Algiers summoned French Ambassador Francois Gouyette on Wednesday and handed him a “formal protest,” according to the foreign ministry, which said that the visa cut generated “confusion and ambiguity as to its motive and scope.”

Tunisia has not responded officially unlike other neighboring countries, but many of its citizens expressed their worries on Wednesday in front of Transport Layer Security TLS Contact, the only private agency authorized to accept applications for France.

Morocco’s Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, said the French decision was “unjustified” and “does not reflect the reality of diplomatic partnership in the fight against irregular migration.”

The decision was made by French President Emmanuel Macron after he failed to create diplomatic ties with the three North African countries a month ago the station reported.