France shows 12 Algerian officials because of diplomatic tensions

France shows 12 Algerian officials because of diplomatic tensions

France announced on Tuesday that it shows 12 Algerian diplomats one day after Algeria announced the designation of the same number of French officials. These measures are part of an escalation process in the already tense relationships between the two countries.

Reasons of the expulsion

Algeria said that the designation of the 12 French officials was related to the arrest of an Algerian consulate employee by French authorities in a kidnapping case. However, the diplomatic relationships between Algeria and France have deteriorated since last summer.

The background of the tensions

The turning point entered when France changed its position and supported the Morocco autonomy plan for the Western Sahara. This controversial region is claimed by the pro-independent Polisario front, which in turn receives support from Algeria. In November, the tension culminated, when the French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, an open critic of Islamism and the Algerian regime, was arrested by Algerian security forces. He was subsequently sentenced to five years in prison, against which he appealed.

reactions from France

In addition to what French officials described as a "symmetrical" designation of 12 Algerian diplomats, the French ambassador in Algiers was ordered for consultations, such as a Explanation announced from the French Presidential Office on Tuesday. This explanation stated that the Algerian authorities are responsible for "brutal deterioration in bilateral relationships".

votes about the situation

The French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot expressed X that the decision was "inexplicable" in Algeria and that the dialogue could be "not one-sided". French anti-terrorist authorities reported on the arrest of three Algerian citizens in the past week, which were temporarily accused of "kidnapping or arbitrary detention ... in connection with a terrorist project".

influence of social media

The arrested are said to have been involved in the kidnapping of the Algerian influencer Amir Boukhors, known as Amir DZ. Boukhors is a critic of the Algerian government and has 1.1 million followers on Tikkok. The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the consular official in connection with the kidnapping was aimed at disregarding Algeria to "humble" and the civil servant's consular immunity, which is a clear violation of diplomatic customs and relevant agreements.

summary of events

The latest wave of hostility follows a short relaxation of the tensions about two weeks ago when French President Emmanuel Macron called his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune. At this point, French officials had declared that they had agreed to revive the bilateral relationships.