France-Algeria Tensions Rise as Ambassador Summoned Over Real Estate Dispute

Algiers, March 17, 2025 – Amid ongoing political tensions between Algiers and Paris, the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has once again summoned French Ambassador Stéphane Romatet to address long-ignored concerns regarding real estate occupied by France in Algeria, according to the Algérie Presse Service (APS).

Algeria Presses France on Unequal Real Estate Agreements

The Foreign Ministry raised concerns about 61 properties occupied by France in Algeria at rents deemed disproportionately low. Among them is the French Embassy in Algiers, spanning 14 hectares in an exclusive district, with a rent so insignificant that, as APS describes, it "wouldn’t even cover the price of a modest maid’s room in Paris." Similarly, the ambassador's residence, ‘Les Oliviers,’ covers 4 hectares and was leased for a symbolic franc until August 2023—a generosity that France has never extended to Algeria on its own soil.

A Longstanding Asymmetry in Bilateral Relations

APS criticized French far-right politicians for distorting the facts and portraying Algeria as the main beneficiary of bilateral agreements. However, APS pointed out that France gains significantly more from these arrangements, highlighting agreements such as:

• The 1968 migration treaty, which allows Algerians a special residency status in France while France benefits from Algerian labor for its economy.

• The 1994 trade and investment agreement, which has favored French companies in Algeria while offering limited access for Algerian businesses in France.

  
  

“The Time for Hypocrisy is Over”

APS firmly refuted claims that Algeria has unfairly benefited from French agreements, stating that it is France that has taken advantage of every treaty for decades. "If Paris wants to discuss reciprocity and respect for agreements, then let’s open the debate!" the dispatch challenged.

Tensions Already Escalating Over Border Treatment

This latest summons comes shortly after Ambassador Romatet was called in January 2025 following complaints from Algerian travelers about discriminatory treatment at French airports, including Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle and Orly. Algeria’s Secretary of State for the National Community Abroad had then expressed a firm protest, demanding immediate corrective measures.

As diplomatic tensions mount, Algeria is making it clear that it will no longer accept one-sided agreements or mistreatment of its citizens.