Paris derails normalisation of relations with Algeria French ambassador summoned

Algeria has summoned the French ambassador to protest the arrest of an Algerian consular official on suspicion of involvement in the kidnapping of a TikTok user. 

This Algerian consular official was one of three men charged on April 11 in connection with the abduction of popular TikTok influencer Amir Boukhors, known as "Amir DZ," who had been a vocal critic of the Algerian government, Caliber.Az reports, citing the website of International French Radio RFI. 

Boukhors, who has faced accusations from Algeria of being a "saboteur linked to terrorist groups," was abducted in April 2024 and released the following day, his lawyer reported.

The three individuals, including the consular official, face charges of abduction, arbitrary detention, illegal confinement, and association with a terrorist enterprise. These charges were announced by France's Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT). Following the indictment, the suspects were placed in custody.

Algerian authorities responded strongly, lodging a formal protest with French Ambassador Stéphane Romatet. Algeria's foreign ministry condemned the arrest of its consular officer, which it described as "public" and "without prior notification through diplomatic channels." The ministry demanded the officer's immediate release, dismissing the charges as based on a "far-fetched argument" stemming from the officer's mobile phone allegedly being near Boukhors' home.

Boukhors, who fled Algeria and sought asylum in France in 2016, was granted political asylum in 2023. Despite this, Algeria has issued nine international arrest warrants against him, accusing him of fraud and terrorism-related offenses.

The indictment comes at a sensitive time, as relations between France and Algeria had shown signs of improvement following a March 31st phone call between French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. Just a week before the charges, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot expressed optimism about entering a "new phase" in bilateral ties.

However, Algeria’s foreign ministry suggested that the charges were not coincidental, viewing them as an attempt to undermine the ongoing efforts to revive relations between the two countries. The diplomatic tensions between France and Algeria have been on the rise since last year, particularly following Macron’s recognition of Morocco’s autonomy plan for the disputed Western Sahara region. This led to Algeria recalling its ambassador from Paris in protest. Tensions further escalated over the case of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly undermining Algeria's territorial unity, with Macron calling for his release.

Later, Algerian officials have demanded the return of Boukhors to face trial in Algeria, further complicating the already fraught diplomatic landscape. The case underscores the ongoing tensions between France and Algeria, both stemming from historical grievances and contemporary political disputes.

The Algerian authorities have decided to expel 12 French diplomats. 

This was reported by the newspaper Le Figaro with reference to the head of the French Foreign Ministry Jean-Noel Barrot.

“The Algerian authorities have asked 12 of our employees to leave the Algerian territory within 48 hours,” - the edition quotes the words of the Minister.

According to Le Figaro, we are talking about administrative and diplomatic staff associated with the French interior ministry. The foreign minister added that Algeria was expelling diplomats in response to the detention in France of “three Algerian citizens suspected of committing offenses on French territory”.

The newspaper specifies that they were detained on April 11.

As Barro noted, this move by Algeria will not go unanswered.

By Khagan Isayev