Algeria’s decision to expel 12 French consular staff has effectively dashed any hopes of a swift thaw in diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
The expulsion came in retaliation to charges filed in France last Friday against an Algerian consular official. The official, along with two other Algerians, is accused of participating in the abduction of a political dissident in the Paris suburbs a year ago.
Algerian authorities have condemned the arrest, describing it as “a blatant violation of the immunities and privileges attached to his diplomatic role,” according to the state-run APS news agency. APS further claimed the legal action was no coincidence, asserting its true aim was to sabotage renewed efforts at bilateral cooperation that had recently been set in motion by the two heads of state.
A late March phone call between French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune had offered a glimmer of reconciliation after months of diplomatic crisis. This was followed by a visit to Algiers last week by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, which appeared to reinforce the intent on both sides to repair strained ties.
However, the mass expulsion—marking the most significant diplomatic fallout since Algeria’s independence from France in 1962—signals a sharp reversal. It also highlights that anti-French sentiment remains strong within influential circles of the Algerian government.
A closer look suggests that Algeria’s anger may be aimed less at Macron himself and more at certain members of his administration—particularly Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau. Known for his hardline stances on immigration, security, and Algeria, Retailleau, a right-wing figure with presidential ambitions, is suspected by Algiers of orchestrating the arrest of the consular official in a move that could undercut Macron’s more measured diplomacy.
Notably, several of the expelled consular staff are reported to be affiliated with France’s Interior Ministry, effectively tying them to Retailleau’s sphere of influence.
Algerian media frequently criticize France’s right and far-right factions for wielding disproportionate sway in Paris and damaging bilateral relations. Yet, President Macron himself has recently received more lenient treatment in Algerian discourse, despite triggering the initial diplomatic crisis last July when he publicly aligned more closely with Morocco, Algeria’s regional rival.
Since then, diplomatic relations have hit a new low. Trade and intelligence collaboration have faltered, and the two nations have exchanged sharp words over issues ranging from immigration policy to the influence of anti-French Algerian voices online.
Tensions further escalated with the arrest of 80-year-old Franco-Algerian author Boualem Sansal at Algiers airport in November. Diagnosed with cancer, Sansal was sentenced to five years in prison for alleged offenses against state security. Prior to the latest diplomatic fallout, there had been cautious optimism in Paris that Sansal might be released as a humanitarian gesture by President Tebboune.
That hope, along with prospects for diplomatic reconciliation, now appears increasingly remote.
