France and Algeria have resumed diplomatic talks aimed at mending strained relations between the two countries.

This follows months of fighting that have hurt Paris’ economic interests in its former colony and stalled vital security cooperation.

The complicated ties between the two took a turn for the worse last year when French President Emmanuel Macron backed an autonomy plan for Western Sahara.

The former Spanish colony is largely controlled by Morocco but is claimed by the Algeria-backed Polisario Front.

Paris has since alleged that Algiers had adopted a policy that aims to wipe France’s economic presence from the country.

Extensive trade between the two has fallen by as much as 30 per cent since the European summer.

In addition, security cooperation, including over Islamist militancy, has stopped.

At the start of April, the France’s foreign minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, told parliament it was in the interests of both the country and French people for cooperation to resume.

It is estimated that some 10 per cent of France’s 68 million citizens have links to Algeria.

Barrot arrived in Algiers on Sunday for a day of talks.

Ahead of the first direct talks between the Democratic Republic of Congo and M23 rebels, the African Union has endorsed the appointment of Faure Gnassingbé as the new mediator.

The Togolese president will replace his Angolan counterpart, João Lourenço who has said he wants to focus on his work as the AU chairperson.

After years of fighting, the Rwanda-backed rebel group seized eastern Congo’s two largest cities in a lightening offensive since January.

This resulted in the death of thousands of people and forced hundreds of thousands others from their homes.

Highlighting the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the eastern DRC, Lourenco said there was a need for momentum in the mediation process,

There have been fears the fighting could evolve  into a wider regional war.

M23 rebels this week withdrew from the strategic town of Walikale, describing the move as a goodwill gesture ahead of planned peace talks with the government in Doha next Wednesday.

The meeting comes after the two sides reportedly held private talks last week – and analysts believe the offer the greatest hope of a halt to hostilities.

Some have raised concerns, however, about how the AU mediation in parallel with the facilitation process in Doha might lead to coordination problems.

The United Nations and Western governments say Rwanda has provided arms and troops to the ethnic Tutsi-led M23, an accusation Kigali denies.

Tens of thousands of people have taken part in protests in Washington and other cities across the United States against President Donald Trump and his billionaire ally, Elon Musk.

Over a thousand of the so-called “Hands Off” rallies took place on Saturday in protests against the Trump administration’s overhaul of the government and expansion of presidential authority.

In the capital, despite the gloomy weather, thousands of people streamed onto the expanse of grass surrounding the Washington Monument.

Organisers estimate that more than 250,000 people took part in demonstrations in all 50 US states, including the National Mall in the capital.

Protesters expressed what is seen as the rising anger and frustration by Americans with a wide range of Trump’s policies.

This includes what they see as his attacks on federal workers, education, health programmes, the economy, the treatment of marginalised communities, and deportation of immigrants.

Around the world, American expatriates and local supporters assembled in cities including Berlin, Frankfurt, Paris, and London.

Trump meanwhile spent the day in Florida playing a round of golf before returning to his Mar-a-Lago compound.