Algeria Orders 12 French Diplomats to Leave The Country

Algeria has given 12 French officials a 48-hour deadline to leave the country, as confirmed by the French foreign minister.

This move is widely seen as a response to the recent arrest of three Algerian nationals in France.

“I am asking Algerian authorities to abandon these expulsion measures… if the decision to send back our officials is maintained, we will have no other choice but to respond immediately,” said Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.

A diplomatic source noted that among those asked to leave are members of the French interior ministry.

The diplomatic fallout follows the indictment of three Algerians, including a consular official, by French prosecutors on Friday. They are suspected of being involved in the April 2024 abduction of Algerian influencer Amir Boukhors in a suburb of Paris.

Boukhors, known online as “Amir DZ,” is a prominent critic of the Algerian government. He has more than a million followers on TikTok and was granted political asylum in France in 2023.

The Algerian government is calling for Boukhors’ extradition to face legal charges and has issued nine international arrest warrants accusing him of fraud and terrorism.

This development adds to the strain on an already delicate relationship. For years, the dynamic between Paris and Algiers has been marked by complexity, despite various diplomatic efforts to foster improved ties.