Algeria has strongly objected to a new measure by French authorities that blocks Algerian diplomats from accessing restricted zones at Paris airports to collect diplomatic mail.
The Algerian government announced Thursday that it would apply similar restrictions to French diplomats in response.
According to a statement published by Algeria’s state-run news agency, the restriction was seen as unexpected and disruptive to embassy operations.
Algerian officials stated that the move interferes with standard diplomatic functions and goes against long-established international agreements.
The Algerian Foreign Ministry responded by summoning the chargé d’affaires from the French Embassy in Algiers.
At the same time, Algeria’s acting ambassador in Paris contacted French officials to seek clarification.
French authorities reportedly informed Algeria that the new rule came from the Interior Ministry, without consultation or notice to France’s Foreign Ministry.
Algerian officials viewed this as a breach of transparency and standard protocol.
Algeria argued that the decision violates the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which gives embassies the right to collect diplomatic mail directly and without interference.
These bags, which carry official government documents, are typically handled by authorized embassy staff at the airport.
In reaction, Algeria announced it would immediately apply the principle of reciprocity, meaning French diplomats in Algeria will now face the same limits.
The Foreign Ministry also indicated that it might take the issue to international institutions, including the United Nations.
The dispute adds to existing tensions between the two countries, which have been strained for years over various issues. Diplomatic ties were downgraded in July 2024, with both countries reducing their representation to the level of chargé d’affaires.
This incident could deepen the ongoing diplomatic rift, the most serious since Algeria gained independence from France in 1962.