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Amid escalating diplomatic tensions between Algeria and France, Algiers has requested the departure of twelve French embassy personnel within 48 hours, according to a statement from the French Foreign Minister. This latest development underscores the strained Algeria-France relations and signals a potential deepening of the diplomatic rift.
Algeria Orders Departure of French Embassy Staff
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed that Algeria has instructed twelve employees of the French embassy to leave the nation within a two-day timeframe. He indicated that this action is directly related to the formal indictment in France of three Algerian citizens this past Friday, one of whom is identified as a consular official.
Link to Indictment of Algerians in France
The individuals are accused of involvement in the alleged abduction of Amir Boukhors, a 41-year-old critic of the Algerian government. Mr. Boukhors, also known as Amir DZ, maintains a significant presence on social media and reportedly received political asylum in France in 2023. The charges stem from an incident last year.
Details of Amir Boukhors Case
Amir Boukhors has resided in France since 2016 and gained political asylum in 2023, according to reports. He was allegedly kidnapped in April 2024 in the southern outskirts of Paris but was released the following day, as stated by his lawyer, Eric Plouvier.
Mr. Plouvier informed AFP that Boukhors had been “the target of two severe assaults, one in 2022 and another on the evening of April 29, 2024.”
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French news outlets have reported that Boukhors was forced into a vehicle with a flashing light by individuals posing as police officers. He was subsequently released without any explanation given.
Algerian Accusations Against Boukhors
The Algerian government has issued nine international arrest warrants for Mr. Boukhors, alleging fraud and connections to terrorist organizations.
Boukhors denies these accusations. In 2022, French courts rejected Algeria’s request for his extradition.
France Urges Algeria to Reconsider Expulsions
Foreign Minister Barrot has called upon Algeria to “abandon” the expulsion measures. He asserted that France is prepared to “respond immediately” if Algeria proceeds with the planned expulsions.
Speaking on Monday, Barrot stated, “I am requesting that Algerian authorities abandon these expulsion measures… should the decision to repatriate our officials be upheld, we will be left with no alternative but to issue an immediate response.”
Barrot asserted that the expulsions are a direct reaction to the indictment of the three Algerian nationals in Paris on Friday. The charges against them reportedly include abduction, unlawful detention, illegal confinement, and involvement in a terrorist organization; among those indicted is the consular official.
Algerian Foreign Ministry Summons French Ambassador
Algeria’s foreign ministry has confirmed summoning French ambassador Stephane Romatet to convey its “strong protest.” According to the Algerian state news agency, the ministry demanded the immediate release of the consular official.
The ministry further stated that the official “was apprehended in public and then taken into custody without any notification through established diplomatic channels.”
The Algerian foreign ministry suggested that this action is “not coincidental” and occurs “in a very specific context aimed at obstructing the process of revitalizing bilateral relations.”
Background of Strained Relations
This case represents the most recent in a series of incidents that have contributed to a widening divide between France and Algeria. The Algeria-France relationship has been increasingly tested by various disputes.
Past incidents exacerbating tensions include the arrest and imprisonment in Algeria of French-Algerian author Boualem Sansal, who faced accusations of undermining Algeria’s territorial integrity.
Last year, Algeria recalled its ambassador from Paris after France voiced support for Morocco’s position on the contested Western Sahara territory.
According to a diplomatic source who spoke with AFP, the twelve French officials requested to leave Algeria include some personnel from the French interior ministry.
Efforts to Repair Relations
Despite ongoing tensions, there have been tentative efforts to mend relations between the two nations. A phone conversation between French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboun took place in March.
A joint statement described the call as a “long, frank and friendly exchange on the state of bilateral relations and the tensions that have accumulated in recent months.”
Following an official visit to Algeria on April 6, where he met with President Tebboun, Minister Barrot expressed his hope for a “new phase” in Algeria-France relations.