France ordered the expulsion of Algerian diplomats in a retaliatory move, deepening a diplomatic crisis between the two nations, AP News reported.
The decision, announced on Wednesday by the French Foreign Ministry, came days after Algeria had expelled 15 French officials, a move Paris condemned as a breach of “longstanding bilateral protocols.”
The reciprocal expulsions mark a sharp deterioration in relations, undermining a 2013 agreement that allowed visa-free travel for diplomatic passport holders. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot framed the action as “strict reciprocity.”
The Algerians wanted to send back our agents; we are sending theirs back.
Algeria had justified its initial expulsion by accusing France of procedural violations, including improper accreditation of replacement diplomats.
Tensions simmered for decades over France’s colonial legacy in Algeria and recent policy shifts. A major flashpoint emerged in 2022 when France backed Morocco’s claim to Western Sahara, a disputed territory where Algeria supports the pro-independence Polisario Front.
The rift threatens to destabilise more than $12 billion in annual trade and complicate travel for Algeria’s diaspora in France, which numbers over 800,000. Analysts warn the spat could also hinder counterterrorism cooperation in the Sahel, where both nations have strategic interests.
While neither side has disclosed the number of diplomats affected, the tit-for-tat expulsions signal a hardening of positions.
