Algeria has ordered the expulsion of 12 French consular staff, marking a sharp downturn in relations with France and ending recent hopes for diplomatic reconciliation.
The move, viewed as the largest such expulsion since Algeria gained independence in 1962, follows the arrest of an Algerian consular official in France—an incident that Algiers views as a serious breach of diplomatic protocol.
The French judiciary last week charged the official, along with two other Algerians, in connection with the abduction of a political dissident in the suburbs of Paris. The man, a vocal critic of Algeria’s leadership, disappeared last year in an incident that has been under quiet investigation. Algeria reacted strongly to the charges, asserting that the arrest ignored the diplomatic immunity guaranteed to the official.
Algeria’s state news agency described the judicial move as a deliberate act meant to derail improving ties between the two countries. Officials in Algiers believe that the timing of the arrest was politically motivated, especially given recent signs of a thaw in the icy relationship.
Last month, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune by phone, signaling a possible shift towards reconciliation. That conversation was followed by a visit to Algiers by Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, suggesting that Paris was committed to rebuilding ties after months of strain.
But the expulsion order now reveals the fragility of those efforts. Algerian officials seem to place blame not directly on Macron, but on his interior minister, Bruno Retailleau. A prominent right-wing figure in French politics, Retailleau has gained notoriety for his hardline views on immigration and his stern stance towards Algeria.
Algerian sources allege that Retailleau played a key role in the consular arrest and accuse him of undermining Macron’s more balanced approach to diplomacy. Notably, several of the expelled staff are linked to the French interior ministry, reinforcing suspicions in Algiers that this was more than a legal action—it was a political message.
Algeria has long expressed concern about the influence of right-wing and far-right voices in France, accusing them of promoting hostility towards North African nations and interfering with diplomatic processes. While Macron had previously drawn Algerian criticism—particularly for favoring closer ties with Morocco—Algiers had recently shown signs of warming to him.
Those hopes now appear to be fading. Key areas of cooperation between the two nations, including trade and security collaboration, have already suffered under the weight of their ongoing disputes. Each side has traded accusations: France says Algeria is uncooperative on accepting deported nationals, while Algeria claims its diplomats have been harassed.
The broader deterioration in relations has also affected individuals. Last November, Algerian authorities arrested Boualem Sansal, a dual French-Algerian citizen and renowned author, shortly after he arrived in Algiers. Despite being elderly and seriously ill, Sansal was sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly endangering state security. Until recently, there had been cautious optimism in Paris that a humanitarian release might be possible. That optimism has now dimmed with the latest developments.
As the diplomatic fallout continues, both sides appear to be digging in. What began as a quiet legal case has reignited a long history of political tension, mistrust, and rivalry between Paris and Algiers—reminding the world that even decades after colonial rule, their relationship remains anything but simple.