Algeria has ordered 12 French diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours, marking a sharp escalation in already tense relations between Algiers and Paris. This comes shortly after French authorities arrested three Algerian nationals in France—one of whom reportedly worked with the Algerian consulate—over alleged ties to terrorist activity.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot quickly condemned the expulsion, calling it disproportionate. According to Barrot, the diplomats being expelled have no direct connection to the arrests, and he warned that France may consider reciprocal action if the move isn’t reversed.
This isn’t the first diplomatic spat between both countries. Over the years, tensions have flared around issues like visa restrictions, France’s historical role in Algeria, and more recently, differences in handling the Western Sahara issue. Even with occasional efforts at reconciliation—like the recent phone call between Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Abdelmadjid Tebboune—trust seems hard to rebuild.
Now, with diplomats packing up and heading home, the situation is once again raising concerns about the direction of French-Algerian relations. Whether this will lead to deeper diplomatic fallout or spark a reset remains to be seen.
