French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Algeria on Thursday for a three-day visit aimed at mending ties with the former French colony, which this year marks its 60th anniversary of independence.

The first French President to be born after Algeria's independence, Macron is hoping "to lay a foundation to rebuild and develop" a sometimes difficult relationship with the North African nation, his office said.

Accompanied by seven ministers, Macron arrived at the Houari Boumediene Airport in the capital Algiers, where he was received by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

The two heads of state were scheduled  to visit a monument to martyrs of the country's war for independence, which ended more than 130 years of French colonial rule with Algeria's independence in 1962.

Franco-Algerian relations have seen repeated crises since then.

Macron and Tebboune will discuss the situation in Algeria's southern neighbour Mali, as well as the growing regional clout of Russia, Algeria's top arms supplier.

France's latest efforts to mend ties comes as Algeria moves to fill a vast shortfall in gas supplies to Europe following Russia's military actions in Ukraine.

European nations are seeking to end their dependence on Russian hydrocarbons, giving Algeria – Africa's biggest gas exporter with direct pipelines to Spain and Italy – renewed clout.

"The French president will certainly ask Algeria to make an effort to try to increase its gas production," said Algerian economist Abderrahmane Mebtoul.

But Macron's office has said that gas is not a major feature of the visit, and an advisor said the trip is "about being oriented towards the future".

Macron has long ruled out issuing an apology for the highly sensitive issue of colonialism, but he has made a series of gestures aimed at healing past wounds.

(With input from agencies)