Algeria has ordered 12 French officials to leave the country within 48 hours, according to a statement by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Monday.
The move is reportedly linked to the recent arrest of three Algerian nationals in France.
“I urge the Algerian authorities to reverse these expulsion measures… If the decision to send back our officials is upheld, we will be left with no option but to respond immediately,” Barrot warned.
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A diplomatic source confirmed to AFP that among those being expelled are members of France’s interior ministry.
The incident comes on the heels of French prosecutors indicting three Algerians—one of whom is reportedly a consular official—on Friday. They are suspected of involvement in the kidnapping of Algerian influencer Amir Boukhors, known online as “Amir DZ,” from a suburb of Paris in April 2024.
Boukhors, a prominent critic of the Algerian government with over a million TikTok followers, was granted political asylum in France in 2023. The Algerian government is demanding his extradition to face charges, having issued nine international arrest warrants against him for alleged fraud and terrorism.
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This latest dispute adds further strain to an already fragile relationship between Paris and Algiers. Despite years of diplomatic efforts, ties between the two nations remain complex and often contentious.
France threaten retaliation
Jean-Noël Barrot , French foreign minister on Monday threatened to retaliate if Algeria pursued an order to expel 12 members of staff at the French embassy over the next two days.
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“I am asking Algerian authorities to abandon these expulsion measures,” Barrot said. “If the decision to send back our officials is maintained, we will have no other choice but to respond immediately.”
The 12 include some members of the French interior ministry, a diplomatic source told the French news agency AFP.
