France-Algeria relations strained as officials ordered to leave

France warns of retaliation after Algeria expels 12 French officials over abduction case and growing political discord.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot (left) meets with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (right) in Algiers, Algeria, on April 6, 2025. (c) Handout/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Fresh friction erupted between France and Algeria on Monday as tensions flared over a deepening diplomatic dispute that now threatens years of delicate fence-mending. In the latest escalation, Algeria ordered 12 French officials to leave the country within 48 hours, prompting a stern response from Paris and throwing France Algeria relations into renewed uncertainty.

The move follows the arrest in France of three Algerian nationals, one of whom is a consular official, linked to the 2024 abduction of political dissident Amir Boukhors—also known by his online alias "Amir DZ." The case has stirred nationalistic sensitivities and triggered a wave of accusations between the two nations, whose ties have long been entangled in post-colonial complexities.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, who only weeks ago visited Algiers in an effort to heal past wounds, expressed frustration and disappointment over the expulsions.

"I am asking Algerian authorities to abandon these expulsion measures," Barrot said in a statement from Paris. "If the decision to send back our officials is maintained, we will have no other choice but to respond immediately."

According to a diplomatic source quoted by AFP, those ordered to leave include several members of the French interior ministry. Paris is now weighing retaliatory measures, although French officials emphasized that "contacts are being maintained" and that the Élysée hopes to de-escalate the confrontation.

Arrests ignite diplomatic firestorm

At the heart of the controversy lies the indictment of three Algerians on French soil, including a consular employee, on charges of participation in the 2024 abduction of Boukhors. The men are also being investigated for involvement in a “terrorist” conspiracy, according to French prosecutors, and were placed in pre-trial detention over the weekend.

Boukhors, a 41-year-old Algerian influencer and regime critic with over a million TikTok followers, was granted political asylum by France in 2023. He was abducted in April 2024 from the southern suburbs of Paris and released the following day, according to his lawyer, Eric Plouvier. The incident, though brief, heightened concerns about foreign operations targeting dissidents on French soil.

Algeria, which had issued multiple international arrest warrants against Boukhors on charges including fraud and "terrorist acts," has demanded his extradition—something France has categorically refused. That refusal appears to have further hardened Algeria's stance, leading to what it calls a reaction to France’s "unacceptable judicial conspiracy."

On Saturday, Algeria’s foreign ministry issued a scathing statement rejecting what it labeled as "rotten arguments" from the French interior ministry. It characterized the arrests as part of a broader strategy to undermine recent rapprochement efforts, and warned that the fallout would cause “great damage to Algerian-French relations.”

France’s fence-mending efforts unravel

Barrot’s recent trip to Algiers had been designed to reverse months of tension, much of which stemmed from France’s 2023 recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara. Algeria, a long-standing supporter of the Polisario Front independence movement, saw the move as a betrayal.

The situation grew more volatile in November, when Algeria detained French-Algerian author Boualem Sansal. Sansal had drawn ire in Algiers for remarks made during an interview with a far-right French media outlet, in which he criticized Algeria’s territorial claims. He was charged with national security offenses and sentenced in March to five years in prison.

Despite Barrot’s efforts during his visit—including a meeting with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune that emphasized the desire to build a “partnership of equals”—relations were already fraying. The sudden expulsion of diplomats now threatens to undo even that modest diplomatic progress.

French right-wing voices blast Macron’s approach

The crisis has sparked a political firestorm back in France, especially from right-wing figures who have long been critical of President Emmanuel Macron’s approach to Algeria.

“Brilliant results of Emmanuel Macron's strategy of appeasement,” said Jordan Bardella, leader of the far-right National Rally party, in a sharply worded post on X. Bardella accused Barrot of “prostrations” before Algerian leaders and called for a tougher stance in defense of national sovereignty.

The sentiment was echoed by other conservative voices, who see the arrests and expulsions as evidence of Algiers exploiting France’s attempts at conciliation for its own political purposes. Critics argue that Macron’s strategy of outreach and historical recognition—including acknowledging colonial abuses—has failed to produce reciprocal goodwill.

Long history of turbulent ties

France Algeria relations have been a persistent sore spot in French foreign policy. Since Algeria’s independence in 1962 after a brutal war of liberation, the two countries have shared a complicated relationship shaped by immigration, memory politics, economic ties, and regional geopolitics.

Efforts at reconciliation often stumble over differences in historical narratives and clashing political agendas. Macron has tried to reset the relationship by recognizing past colonial abuses and engaging in high-profile visits, including a 2022 trip marked by symbolic gestures of friendship. But incidents like the Boukhors case and the arrest of Sansal show how fragile the process remains.

Algeria, for its part, has sought to assert its sovereignty and resist what it sees as neocolonial interference from Paris, especially when it comes to judicial matters and political dissidents. The demand for Boukhors’ extradition—and the harsh response to France’s refusal—are just the latest flashpoints.

What’s next for France and Algeria?

Despite the tit-for-tat rhetoric, French diplomats remain hopeful that backchannel communications can restore calm. The Élysée is likely to weigh its next move carefully, aiming to avoid a full diplomatic rupture while signaling that the safety and sovereignty of its judicial system remain non-negotiable.

Meanwhile, Algiers has yet to signal any willingness to reverse the expulsion order. The episode has already chilled relations again, and it is unclear whether France will respond by expelling Algerian officials in kind.

Boukhors’ legal case will remain a point of contention. France’s refusal to extradite him aligns with its laws protecting political asylum seekers but stands at odds with Algeria’s insistence that the influencer is a criminal, not a dissident.

The delicate balancing act—between upholding democratic values and maintaining strategic ties with a key North African neighbor—has become increasingly difficult to manage.

As it stands, France Algeria relations are strained once again, leaving little room for optimism that the once-promising reset will succeed anytime soon.