Diplomatic Crisis Deepens as France and Algeria Expel Each Other’s Diplomats

Relations between France and Algeria have plunged into a new low as both countries expel diplomats in a retaliatory escalation that reflects not only contemporary political discord but also the lingering scars of colonialism.

On Wednesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced the expulsion of Algerian diplomats in direct response to Algeria’s decision to remove 15 French officials earlier this week. France framed the move as an act of “strict reciprocity.”

Tit-for-Tat Escalation

Barrot confirmed that Algeria’s charge d’affaires was summoned to the French foreign ministry and informed of the retaliation. “The Algerians wanted to expel our agents; we are expelling theirs,” he stated in an interview with BFMTV. He added that France reserves the right to escalate further if necessary.

While France has not disclosed the number of Algerians affected, the expulsions appear to target those holding diplomatic passports. The move breaches a 2013 bilateral agreement that allowed such officials to travel between the countries without visas.

Behind the Diplomatic Row

Algeria cited France’s procedural violations, including how new diplomats were assigned following a prior expulsion, as the reason for its recent actions. French officials have pushed back, calling the Algerian measures “unjustified and unjustifiable.”

The tensions can be traced back to April, when France expelled 12 Algerian diplomats after an Algerian consular official was arrested on French soil. Algeria had expelled 12 French officials in retaliation, accusing France of violating diplomatic protocol and attempting to “humiliate” the North African state.

The consular official was implicated in a scandal involving the attempted abduction of Amir Boukhors, a prominent Algerian dissident and online influencer who was granted asylum by France in 2023. Boukhors, known as Amir DZ, has long criticised Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and claimed he was kidnapped and drugged in an attempt to smuggle him out of the country. French counter-espionage services linked the operation to Algerian agents, leading to multiple arrests.

The Colonial Ghosts Still Haunt

At the heart of the diplomatic rift is the deeply rooted colonial history between the two nations. France’s brutal occupation of Algeria lasted 132 years, ending only in 1962 after a bloody war of independence. That past continues to shape relations, often resurfacing during moments of political tension.

Modern disputes have added fuel to the fire. A major rupture came in 2023 when France publicly endorsed Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara, a region Algeria views as Africa’s last colony. Algeria supports the pro-independence Polisario Front and considers France’s stance a betrayal of historic neutrality.

A Crisis with Economic and Human Impact

The standoff threatens more than diplomatic ties. Over $12 billion in bilateral trade is at risk, and travel may be disrupted for the substantial Algerian diaspora in France — a community with deep familial, economic and cultural connections to both countries.

In February, Algeria suspended engagement with the French Senate after its president visited Moroccan-administered Western Sahara, reinforcing France’s support for Morocco’s territorial claim. These events have since compounded an already fragile relationship.

Curtain Falls Again on Reconciliation Hopes

Earlier this year, both nations had made efforts to reset ties. Barrot had even declared a return to “normal” cooperation, echoing President Tebboune’s own hopeful rhetoric. But the Boukhors scandal and the diplomatic expulsions have abruptly reversed those efforts.

France’s call for “constructive dialogue” now rings hollow as mutual mistrust overshadows diplomatic engagement. As long as unresolved colonial grievances and regional power rivalries persist, true reconciliation between France and Algeria remains elusive.