On Monday, April 14, Algeria ordered 12 French embassy officials to leave the country within 48 hours, a move that French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot condemned as “regrettable” and warned would “not be without consequences.” The expulsions, described as the largest of French consular staff since Algeria’s independence in 1962, mark a significant escalation in tensions between Paris and its former colony.
Key Details
The Algerian foreign ministry declared the 12 French officials persona non grata in response to the arrest of an Algerian consular official in France. The official, along with two other Algerians, was indicted on Friday, April 11, 2025, for their suspected involvement in the April 2024 abduction of Amir Boukhors, an Algerian influencer and vocal critic of the Algerian government known as “Amir DZ.” Boukhors, who has over a million TikTok followers and was granted political asylum in France in 2023, was kidnapped in a Paris suburb and released 27 hours later. Algeria denounced the arrest as a “vile act,” accusing French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau of orchestrating an “unacceptable judicial conspiracy” to humiliate Algeria.
French Foreign Minister Barrot urged Algeria to reconsider the expulsions, stating, “If the decision to send back our officials is maintained, we will have no other choice but to respond immediately.” He warned that France would act “with the greatest firmness” if Algeria proceeds, hinting at potential tit-for-tat measures. The 12 officials include members of the French interior ministry, according to diplomatic sources. Despite the escalating rhetoric, French officials emphasized that “contacts are being maintained” in hopes of de-escalating the crisis.
Algeria’s foreign ministry, in turn, summoned French Ambassador Stéphane Romatet to protest the consular official’s arrest, claiming it was conducted “without notification through diplomatic channels” and violated diplomatic norms. Algiers has demanded Boukhors’ extradition to face trial on charges of fraud and “terror” offenses, issuing nine international arrest warrants against him. France has refused to comply, citing Boukhors’ asylum status.
The France-Algeria Relationship
The relationship between France and Algeria has been marked by deep historical wounds and recurring diplomatic friction since Algeria’s independence in 1962, following a brutal eight-year war that killed approximately 400,000 Algerians and 35,000 French nationals. France’s colonial rule, which began in 1830, left a legacy of trauma, with issues like migration, memory, and economic ties remaining contentious.
About 10% of France’s population has links to Algeria, and trade between the two nations is significant, making stable relations critical for both.
Recent years have seen efforts to repair ties, notably through French President Emmanuel Macron’s push for transparency about France’s colonial past and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s calls for “appeased relations.”
A March 31, 2025, phone call between the two leaders and Barrot’s visit to Algiers earlier this month raised hopes of a thaw, with both sides agreeing to rebuild a “partnership of equals.” However, these efforts have been repeatedly undermined by disputes.
Key flashpoints include France’s 2024 recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, a territory where Algeria supports the pro-independence Polisario Front, prompting Algiers to recall its ambassador from Paris.
The November 2024 arrest of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, sentenced to five years in prison for undermining Algeria’s territorial integrity, further strained ties. France’s push to deport Algerian nationals deemed threats, often thwarted by Algeria’s refusal to accept them, has also fueled tensions, with French Interior Minister Retailleau accusing Algiers of seeking to “humiliate” France.
Potential Impacts of the Expulsions
The expulsion of French officials risks plunging France-Algeria relations to a historic low, with significant implications:
Diplomatic Retaliation: France’s threat of immediate reprisals could lead to a cycle of expulsions, further hollowing out diplomatic channels. This would hinder cooperation on critical issues like migration, security, and counterterrorism, which has already suffered due to recent strains.
Economic Fallout: Trade, already down 30% since last summer, could face further disruptions. French firms in Algeria have encountered obstacles, and a prolonged crisis may deter investment, impacting both economies. Algeria’s role as a wheat buyer and France’s economic interests in the region are at stake.
Domestic Political Pressure: In France, the crisis has fueled criticism from right-wing politicians like Jordan Bardella of the National Rally, who mocked Macron’s “strategy of appeasement.” Retailleau, a conservative with presidential ambitions, may push for a harder line, complicating Macron’s balancing act. In Algeria, anti-French sentiment, often leveraged by the government, could intensify, rallying domestic support but deepening the rift.
Regional Implications: The dispute could exacerbate tensions in North Africa, particularly given Algeria’s rivalry with Morocco. France’s pro-Morocco stance on Western Sahara has already alienated Algiers, and further escalation may embolden Algeria to strengthen ties with other powers, such as Russia or China, to counter French influence.
