Tensions between France and Algeria have reached a new high. Earlier this week, the Algerian government expelled fifteen French agents deemed to be illegitimately present on its territory, prompting a swift response from Paris, which in turn announced the collective expulsion of Algerian diplomats in France. The move was confirmed Tuesday by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, followed by public remarks from minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Wednesday. Meanwhile, France is calling for dialogue.
On May 11, the chargé d’affaires of the French embassy in Algiers was summoned by Algeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and instructed to ensure the immediate departure of the French agents deemed to be on “irregular assignments.” According to state news agency APS, the Algerian authorities found that fifteen French personnel, presented as diplomats or consular staff, had been deployed without prior notification or proper accreditation, as required under bilateral protocols.
Although they entered Algeria using diplomatic passports—and under the 2013 bilateral agreement, do not require visas—APS reported that these individuals had been issued service passports and were later given diplomatic ones merely to “facilitate access” to Algerian territory. Among them were two agents linked to France’s Interior Ministry, reportedly sent to replace officials previously declared persona non grata.
French retaliation and summons of Algerian diplomat in Paris
On May 12, France’s foreign minister pledged a “swift, firm, and proportionate” response. The French government’s countermeasures were disclosed on Tuesday, May 13.
In a statement, the French Foreign Ministry (Quai d’Orsay) confirmed it had summoned Algeria’s chargé d’affaires in Paris, citing the “unilateral decision by the Algerian authorities to impose new entry requirements on French officials holding official, diplomatic, or service passports.” France called this a “violation of the 2013 agreement.”
“The chargé d’affaires was informed that France would take equivalent measures against Algeria, in the name of strict reciprocity,” the statement added, warning that further action could follow depending on how the situation evolves.
The ministry emphasized the need for Algerian authorities to “act responsibly and resume a constructive and demanding dialogue that had only just begun for the benefit of both nations.”
On Wednesday morning, minister Jean-Noël Barrot elaborated on France’s position in an interview with BFMTV, calling Algeria’s move “unjustified and indefensible.” He confirmed that France’s immediate and proportionate response would involve the return of all agents holding diplomatic passports without visas.
This development throws into question the 2013 agreement that allowed reciprocal visa exemptions for diplomatic passport holders. In April, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau had already suggested that France might soon reevaluate the deal as part of a “graduated response” strategy.
The latest standoff follows last month’s arrest of an Algerian consular agent in France. In retaliation, Algeria expelled twelve French embassy and consulate staff, giving them 48 hours to leave the country. All twelve were under the purview of Interior Minister Retailleau, whom Algeria has directly blamed for the deterioration in bilateral relations—despite signs of rapprochement earlier in April.
France responded by expelling twelve Algerian consular staff and recalled its ambassador to Algiers, Stéphane Romatet, for “consultations.”
These tit-for-tat expulsions mark an unprecedented breakdown in diplomatic relations between France and Algeria since the North African country’s independence in 1962.