Algeria Expels French Officials Amid Rising Diplomatic Tensions

Algeria has expelled 12 French embassy officials, escalating tensions after the arrest of an Algerian official implicated in the kidnapping of a politically asylum-granted influencer, "Amir DZ."

Tensions between France and Algeria have once again escalated following Algeria's decision to expel 12 French officials from its embassies and consulates, as announced by the Algerian Foreign Ministry on Monday. These officials have been given a 48-hour timeframe to leave the country. The move comes in response to the arrest of an Algerian official in France, who is accused of participating in the kidnapping of a prominent Algerian influencer, known as "Amir DZ," last year.

The Algerian Foreign Ministry condemned the actions as a “disgraceful act” that humiliated Algeria without regard to consular laws. Jean-Noël Barrot, France's Foreign Minister, vowed a response, stating, “We are ready to act,” and urged Algerian authorities to reconsider their decision. The arrested official has been indicted on charges including “arrest, abduction, unlawful confinement or arbitrary detention in connection with a terrorist undertaking,” according to French national antiterrorism prosecutors.

"Amir DZ," who has been residing in France since 2016, was granted political asylum in 2023. Algeria has long sought his extradition, issuing nine international arrest warrants accusing him of fraud and terrorism, which French courts have rejected. The political climate remains tense, with underlying historical traumas affecting both nations.

Khadija Mohsen-Finan, a political scientist and associate researcher at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, noted that neither society has fully moved beyond their shared past, preventing the normalization of relations. For over a century, Algeria was a French colony, achieving independence in 1962 after a brutal war. Post-colonial relations have been fraught, especially after last summer's tensions when President Macron expressed support for Morocco's claim over Western Sahara, a territory disputed by Algeria.

Efforts to improve relations had been underway, with Barrot visiting Algiers recently to foster dialogue; however, these initiatives have been thwarted once again. The diplomatic atmosphere soured further with the November arrest of Boualem Sansal, an Algerian French writer accused of undermining national unity, leading to widespread outrage—including criticism from Macron, who has called for Sansal's release. This latest expulsion represents a significant turning point in Franco-Algerian relations, underscoring the fragility of diplomatic ties.