Algeria has ordered 12 French officials to leave the country within 48 hours, France’s foreign minister confirmed on Monday, describing the move as retaliation linked to the arrest of three Algerian nationals in France — one of whom is a consular official.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has called on Algerian authorities to reverse the expulsion decision, warning of swift reciprocal measures if the order is upheld. “I urge the Algerian authorities to abandon these expulsion measures… if they persist, we will have no other option but to respond immediately,” he stated.
According to a diplomatic source quoted by AFP, the individuals facing expulsion include officials from France’s interior ministry.
The diplomatic dispute centres on the recent indictment of three Algerians by French prosecutors. The trio are suspected of involvement in the April 2024 abduction of exiled Algerian influencer Amir Boukhors — widely known online as “Amir DZ” — from a suburb of Paris. One of the accused is said to be a consular official.
Boukhors, a prominent critic of the Algerian regime with over a million TikTok followers, was granted political asylum in France in 2023 after relocating there in 2016. He was reportedly kidnapped in April and released a day later, his lawyer said.
The case has caused significant friction between the two countries, just as diplomatic efforts were being made to mend long-standing tensions. Algiers views the charges as a political move designed to sabotage the improving relationship between the former colonial power and its North African counterpart.
The Algerian government is demanding Boukhors’ extradition, claiming he should stand trial at home. Authorities in Algiers have issued nine international arrest warrants against him, accusing the influencer of terrorism and fraud-related offences.
