Algeria condemns France’s visa restrictions, cites far-right influence Following knife attack by Algerian citizen

Algeria has strongly responded to France's recent decision to impose tighter visa restrictions on Algerians, accusing Paris of acting under the influence of far-right agendas, further intensifying the diplomatic tensions between the two nations.

“This dynamic, which has drawn in … members of the French government, could have immeasurable consequences for all aspects of Algerian-French relations,” the Algerian Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement, Caliber.Az reports per overseas press.

Relations between France and Algeria, a former French colony, have soured in recent months due to tensions over a regional sovereignty dispute in North Africa and the status of several Algerian influencers accused of inciting violence in France. The latest point of contention centres on immigration and visa restrictions, which follow a fatal knife attack on Saturday (February 22) allegedly carried out by a 37-year-old Algerian citizen with a "schizophrenic profile."

In an interview earlier on February 26, ahead of an emergency meeting by the French government on the attack, French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed measures had been introduced to restrict certain Algerian officials from entering France. A ministry official later clarified that these restrictions were enforced before the incident.

However, the Algerian government expressed surprise at the move, stating that it had learned about the restrictions at the same time as the public.

“The Algerian government expresses its surprise and astonishment at this announcement, of which it was in no way informed,” the statement read. “These measures … [are] part of the long list of provocations, intimidations and threats directed against Algeria.”

The French government is set to discuss broader immigration issues, particularly from Algeria, in the Wednesday (February 26) meeting. Government spokesperson Sophie Primas had indicated on February 25 that ministers would consider extending visa restrictions to all Algerians, in response to the knife attack, although this proposal had been under discussion before the incident.

France had previously attempted to deport the Mulhouse suspect ten times, but claimed that Algeria refused to accept his repatriation on each occasion. The Algerian statement made no mention of these failed repatriations.

Algerians represented 12.2% of immigrants residing in France in 2023, according to the most recent figures from France’s national statistics office.

By Aghakazim Guliyev