Empire's last gasp: Algerians suffer discriminatory treatment in Paris French ambassador urged to act

Algeria summoned French Ambassador Stéphane Romatet on January 28 to deliver a strong protest against what it called the “provocative” treatment of Algerian citizens at airports in Paris.

The Algerian Foreign Ministry issued a press release condemning these actions as “absolutely unacceptable” and expressed concern over the "matching testimonies from several Algerian citizens" who described their treatment by French border police at Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports as “provocative, degrading, and discriminatory”, Caliber.Az reports via Anadolu Agency.

The ministry further demanded that the French ambassador relay to the French government the need to “take all necessary measures to end these actions and practices.”

Earlier in the day, three Algerian newspapers, including the government-backed El Moudjahid, reported that Algerian travellers arriving in Paris on January 27 were subjected to “extremely poor treatment.” The reports indicated that Paris airport authorities “intentionally closed all visa windows upon the arrival of Algerian passengers, leaving only one open for them.” As a result, travellers had to wait in line for longer than the duration of their flight to have their passports stamped.

Algerian media outlets also accused French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau of being behind the alleged “maltreatment” of Algerians. The reports described him as "vindictive" and blamed him for what they called a "retaliatory measure."

This follows a previous incident in December when El Moudjahid reported that Algeria had summoned the French ambassador to issue a “strong warning” about “hostile plans” allegedly orchestrated by French intelligence services.

Relations between Algeria and France have been increasingly strained in recent months, especially after France recognized Morocco’s autonomy proposal for the disputed Western Sahara region. Algeria, on the other hand, supports the Polisario Front, which rejects autonomy and advocates for the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination.

The diplomatic relationship between the two countries remains volatile, further fueled by unresolved issues stemming from France’s colonization of Algeria for 132 years (1830–1962). Paris has consistently refused to fully address the historical grievances that continue to impact Algerian society, exacerbating tensions.

By Tamilla Hasanova