France Expels 12 Algerian Officials as Algeria Expels 12 French Officials Amidst Diplomatic Tension Over Kidnapping Case

Diplomatic relations between France and Algeria have taken a dramatic turn for the worse, as both countries engage in tit-for-tat expulsions of senior diplomatic staff, triggered by the arrest of an Algerian consular official linked to a high-profile kidnapping case in France.

On Tuesday, France announced it would expel 12 Algerian diplomatic and consular staff members and had recalled its ambassador from Algiers. This move came in direct response to Algeria’s earlier expulsion of 12 French officials, who were given 48 hours to leave the country.

The standoff stems from the indictment of three Algerian nationals by French prosecutors last Friday, including a consular official, for their alleged involvement in the April 2024 kidnapping of prominent Algerian influencer and government critic, Amir Boukhors — popularly known as "Amir DZ." Boukhors, who has over a million followers on TikTok, was granted political asylum in France in 2023. He was reportedly abducted in a suburb of Paris but released the following day. The suspects now face charges of terrorist conspiracy.

**“I am asking Algerian authorities to abandon these expulsion measures... if the decision to send back our officials is maintained, we will have no other choice but to respond immediately,”** French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Monday.

A diplomatic source confirmed that the Algerians expelled by France include members of Algeria's consular and interior ministries. This marks the first time since Algerian independence in 1962 that France has expelled such a number of Algerian officials and detained a consular employee.

Algeria has issued nine international arrest warrants for Boukhors, accusing him of fraud and terrorism, and is demanding his extradition. However, France has stood firm on his protected asylum status.

Despite recent efforts at diplomatic reconciliation, including a visit by Barrot to President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in Algiers just a week earlier, this episode has thrown those efforts into disarray. Barrot had only recently declared that bilateral relations had “returned to normal” after years of strained ties.

Further complicating the already delicate relationship was French President Emmanuel Macron’s endorsement of Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara — a stance that infuriated Algeria. The recent jailing of French-Algerian author Boualem Sansal by an Algerian court also drew sharp criticism from Paris, with Macron personally calling for his release.

This latest diplomatic crisis reflects the fragility of France-Algeria relations, rooted in a complex post-colonial legacy and frequently disrupted by political flashpoints, personal rights disputes, and differing regional alliances. As both countries brace for potential further fallout, the prospects for quick reconciliation appear dim.