Algerian authorities have ordered twelve French consular staff to leave, signalling a fresh escalation in tensions between the two countries. The decision, announced by Algerian authorities, appears to undermine recent efforts aimed at restoring bilateral ties after a prolonged diplomatic rift.
Charges filed in France against an Algerian consular official and two other Algerian nationals led to the expulsions. They face accusations of participating in the abduction of an opposition dissident in the Paris suburbs last year. Authorities arrested the unnamed official on Friday.
Algiers Condemns Arrest as Violation of Diplomatic Norms
Algeria has denounced the arrest as a breach of diplomatic protocol. In a statement published by the state-run APS news agency, officials described the incident as “a flagrant contravention of the immunities and privileges that attach to his [diplomatic] functions.”
APS further suggested that the legal action was politically motivated: “This unprecedented judicial incident… has not come about by chance. Its purpose is to scupper the relaunch of bilateral relations agreed by the two heads of state.”
Efforts at Reconciliation Derailed
The diplomatic row comes just weeks after signs of a possible thaw. A phone call in late March between French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune signalled a gesture of reconciliation. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot visited Algiers, aiming to reset the relationship.
However, the expulsion of consular staff—reportedly the most significant such action since Algeria’s independence from France in 1962—raises questions about the stability of the diplomatic channel.
Focus Shifts to French Interior Minister
Observers in Algiers have suggested that the true focus of Algeria’s frustration lies not with President Macron, but with other figures in his administration, particularly Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
Retailleau, a conservative politician with presidential ambitions, has been associated with a more hardline stance on immigration and security. Algiers is reportedly linking him to the arrest of the consular official and viewing it as an effort to derail Macron’s more conciliatory approach.
Reports indicate that several of the 12 expelled French officials come from the French interior ministry, strengthening the speculation that Algeria views Retailleau’s influence as a factor in the recent developments.
Longstanding Tensions Resurface
Relations between the two countries have been fraught for some time, with issues ranging from deportations to online activism. France has accused Algeria of failing to cooperate over the return of Algerian nationals ordered to leave French territory, while Algeria has charged France with harassment of its diplomats.
The November arrest of Franco-Algerian author Boualem Sansal at Algiers airport further deepened the divide. Authorities sentenced Sansal, 80, to five years in prison for crimes against state security, prompting criticism from international rights groups.
French officials expressed hope that Sansal would be released on humanitarian grounds, but recent developments have diminished those prospects.
Strategic Realignments and Political Undercurrents
Analysts point to a broader context of shifting alliances and domestic political calculations. President Macron reoriented France’s strategic posture towards Morocco last year, a move that Algiers viewed as a major provocation and marked a turning point in the current standoff.
While some Algerian commentators have softened their rhetoric toward Macron in recent months, criticism of the French right and far right remains frequent. Algerian media often accuses these factions of manipulating bilateral relations for domestic political gain.
Outlook Uncertain
The latest diplomatic fallout underscores the fragility of recent rapprochement efforts and casts doubt on the immediate prospects for a reset in relations. With key players in both governments pursuing divergent agendas, it remains unclear when, or how, meaningful dialogue might resume.
The French foreign ministry has however, not issued any official comment on the expulsion order yet.
