The already icy relationship between France and Algeria has taken another dive. Algiers just gave the boot to 15 more French officials, sparking a sharp rebuke from Paris. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot didn’t mince words, calling the move “brutal” and promising a swift, firm, and measured response.
And just like that, another chapter unfolds in the ever-growing friction between France and its former colony—Algeria, which shook off French rule in 1962 after more than a century of colonization.
Barrot, clearly irked, slammed the expulsions as completely unwarranted. These officials were only on temporary assignments, he argued, and their removal undermines French interests, warranting retaliation.
This isn’t an isolated flare-up. The two countries have clashed on multiple fronts recently. Just last year, French President Emmanuel Macron publicly backed Morocco’s proposal for Western Sahara, a disputed territory. Algeria, firmly in the opposite camp, continues to support the Polisario Front’s push for independence in the region. That move already had Algeria fuming—and then came France’s pledge to pour €150 million into Moroccan development via the French Development Agency. That only added fuel to the fire.
Then there’s the cultural and political tension. Algiers recently cracked down on French-Algerian author Boualem Sansal, and targeted several Algerian social media influencers for alleged incitement and anti-French rhetoric. France hasn’t stayed silent. Paris has criticized Algiers for dragging its feet on accepting deportations of its nationals who are under orders to leave French territory. In response, French officials have floated the idea of slashing Schengen visas for Algerians until deportation cooperation improves.
Relations have gotten so cold, Barrot recently admitted they’re now “totally frozen.”
This diplomatic spat has become something of a tit-for-tat spectacle. In April, Algeria expelled 12 French Interior Ministry staff, giving them 48 hours to pack up and leave. France responded in kind. Now, with 15 more shown the door, things aren’t getting any warmer. The latest expulsion was personally delivered to a French Embassy official summoned by Algeria’s Foreign Ministry.
Barrot voiced his disappointment, saying, “This decision helps neither Algeria nor France.”
As for the reason behind the expulsions, Algeria claims the French staff had been appointed under “irregular conditions.” According to the Algerian Press Agency (APS), France allegedly failed to follow proper diplomatic channels when assigning these individuals to its embassies and consulates in Algeria. The government has demanded their “immediate repatriation.”
Adding to the friction, Algerian officials remain in limbo in France. Several consuls—two in major cities like Paris and Marseille—have been waiting over five months for French approval. Barrot confirmed he’d personally blocked their entry, though he remained cagey about any future actions, noting cryptically, “That’s how diplomacy works.”
Meanwhile, France’s ambassador to Algeria, Stéphane Romatet, was recalled to Paris earlier for consultations and hasn’t returned.
Despite recent efforts by Paris to mend the rift, tensions have only escalated. As it stands, the once-promising attempt at reconciliation now looks more like a diplomatic stalemate, with both sides digging in their heels.
