Algeria Orders French Officials Out, Escalating Diplomatic Row Over Kidnapping Case

Algeria has ordered 12 French officials to leave the country within 48 hours, sharply escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations, Al Jazeera reports.

The move is believed to be linked to the recent arrest in France of three Algerian nationals, including a consular official, suspected of kidnapping a prominent critic of the Algerian government in Paris last year.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot condemned the expulsion order on Monday, stating that it was directly connected to the kidnapping case of Amir Boukhors. Barrot urged Algerian authorities to “abandon these expulsion measures,” warning that France would have “no choice but to respond immediately” if they persisted.

A diplomatic source confirmed to AFP that the 12 individuals included some members of the French Ministry of the Interior. Last week, French prosecutors indicted the three Algerians, placing them in pre-trial detention on charges including “terrorist” conspiracy.

Amir Boukhors, a social media influencer with over a million followers on TikTok under the name “Amir DZ,” is a known opponent of the Algerian government and was granted asylum by France in 2023. He was abducted in a Paris suburb in April of last year and released the following day, according to his lawyer.

Algeria has issued nine international arrest warrants for Boukhors, demanding his return to face trial on accusations of fraud and terror offenses.

This diplomatic spat threatens to derail recent efforts to normalize strained relations between France and its former North African colony. Just a week ago, Barrot visited Algeria and declared ties were back to normal following talks with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

However, tensions have been simmering. French President Emmanuel Macron previously angered Algeria by recognizing a plan for the autonomy of the Western Sahara region under Moroccan sovereignty. Further complicating matters, an Algerian court recently sentenced French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal to five years in prison for undermining national unity, prompting Macron to call for his release.

The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs stated that should Algeria proceed with the expulsion order, it would be the first expulsion of French diplomats since Algeria gained its independence in 1962, marking a significant deterioration in Franco-Algerian relations.