Algeria Expels 12 French Diplomats After Consular Officer’s Arrest in Amir DZ Case

Algeria has ordered the expulsion of 12 French embassy staff within 48 hours following the arrest in Paris of a consular officer linked to the alleged kidnapping of activist Amir DZ. The move has reignited diplomatic tensions between the two nations just weeks after signs of reconciliation.

Diplomatic tensions between Algeria and France have flared up again after French authorities detained three Algerian nationals, including a serving consular officer, in connection with the alleged kidnapping of political activist Amir Boukhors, known online as Amir DZ. The incident, which took place in late April 2024, has triggered a firm response from Algiers.

The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned French Ambassador Stéphane Romatet to protest the detentions, labeling the arrest of the consular officer as “unjustified” and “inadmissible.” Secretary General Lounès Magramane expressed outrage, warning that the act would “cause great damage to Algerian-French relations and will not contribute to appeasement.”

In retaliation, Algeria has given twelve French diplomatic and Interior Ministry staff members 48 hours to leave the country. The expulsion was officially announced in a statement that also reaffirmed Algeria’s commitment to defending its consular personnel.

France, for its part, has warned of retaliatory action. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called Algeria’s expulsion order disconnected from the legal proceedings. “If the decision to send back our agents is maintained, we will have no choice but to respond immediately,” he stated.

The latest row is particularly striking given recent efforts by both countries to mend ties. Just days earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune had seemingly overcome a previous diplomatic crisis, with Barrot himself describing the beginning of a “new phase” in bilateral relations during his visit to Algiers.

The Amir DZ case has once again brought Algerian-French relations to a boiling point, with diplomatic expulsions and threats of further retaliation overshadowing recent attempts at reconciliation. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether both sides can prevent a full-blown diplomatic breakdown.