France has warned it will retaliate if Algeria proceeds with the expulsion of 12 French diplomats, escalating a fresh diplomatic dispute between the two countries.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Monday that Paris would respond immediately if Algeria follows through on the reported request for 12 French diplomatic officials to leave the country within 48 hours. The move comes after French police arrested an Algerian consular official, deepening tensions at a time when Paris has been seeking to repair relations with its former colony.
“I call on Algerian authorities to reconsider these expulsion measures… if the decision to expel our officials is maintained, we will have no choice but to respond immediately,” Barrot stated, as reported by Deutsche Welle. Algerian authorities have yet to publicly confirm the expulsions.
The incident adds strain to relations that had only recently shown signs of improvement after a rocky period last year, when French President Emmanuel Macron backed Morocco’s position over the disputed Western Sahara region, angering Algiers.
Algeria Protests Arrest of Consular Official
The diplomatic row follows Algeria’s protest over the weekend against the French arrest of a consular agent. The official is accused of involvement in the April 2024 kidnapping of Algerian influencer Amir Boukhors, known as “Amir DZ,” a prominent critic of the Algerian government.
Boukhors, who arrived in France in 2016 and was granted political asylum in 2023, was released a day after his abduction. Algerian authorities have issued nine international arrest warrants against him, citing charges of fraud and terrorism-related activities. Two other Algerians were indicted by French prosecutors on Friday, alongside the consular official.
Algeria has criticized the arrest, claiming it undermines recent efforts to mend bilateral relations. The situation marks a sharp setback just as officials on both sides had spoken of a return to normalcy.
