Watan-The Algerian-French crisis has taken a new turn toward further escalation, contrary to expectations following the visit of French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to Algeria, during which he made statements suggesting the crisis was moving toward resolution. He even spoke of closing that chapter, only for a French decision to arrest an Algerian diplomatic employee in Paris to push the situation into an even more tense phase than before.
Algeria’s decision to expel 12 French diplomatic staff and demand they leave the country within 48 hours, along with Paris’s threat to respond in kind if the decision is not reversed, has led to the belief that the crisis between the two countries is now closer to a rupture than to a resolution—or even a return to normal diplomatic engagement. Algeria appears unwilling to reverse its decision to expel the French diplomats, which would likely prompt a reciprocal move from Paris, further aggravating the political crisis and canceling a series of scheduled joint events and meetings that were planned following Barrot’s visit.
These include a visit by French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, a meeting of the Memory Commission in Paris, a planned gathering between the business communities of both countries, and the reappointment of a new Algerian ambassador to Paris.
Algeria–France Tensions Deepen
This escalation was evident in the strongly worded statement issued by the Algerian Foreign Ministry on Saturday, following the arrest of consular employee Soualhi by French authorities in Créteil. He worked at the Algerian consulate in Paris and was detained on suspicion of conspiring to assault an Algerian opposition activist living in France. Algeria viewed the arrest as a violation of diplomatic immunity and emphasized that France’s behavior would not go without consequences.
It warned of severe damage to Algerian-French relations and the end of reconciliation efforts, stating that France’s actions showed a “lack of goodwill and the necessary sincerity to create the conditions needed to resume relations in a calm and normal manner.”
Political analysts believe that this latest development completely undermines efforts to resolve the previous crisis. One analyst noted that it was evident the French move would dismantle all reconciliation efforts initiated after the phone call between French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, as well as the French Foreign Minister’s visit to Algeria on April 6.
Algeria–France Rift Deepens
The Algerian decision to expel 12 French diplomats is unprecedented in the history of bilateral relations and signals the start of a sharper new chapter in the Algerian-French crisis. I believe this kind of crisis tends to drag on, especially since Algeria has now become part of the internal French political equation.” He added, “There’s a growing belief in Algeria that President Macron, whose term ends in 2027, is incapable of managing this phase amid increasing political competition over his succession. From this perspective, we expect the crisis to intensify in the coming days.”
Further reinforcing the outlook for political rupture between the two countries are Algeria’s accusations that a specific French faction is deliberately sabotaging efforts to resolve the earlier crisis that erupted in July 2024. That crisis followed France’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara—a clear reference to the French right-wing bloc that opposes Algeria and influences the French political and media landscape. This faction seemingly wants the political tension with Algeria to persist, a stance openly expressed by prominent right-wing figures such as former French ambassador to Algeria Xavier Driencourt and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, among others.
French Right Blocks Algeria Rapprochement
On this issue, Hicham Aoukal, a researcher in political affairs and international relations at the University of Brussels, said: “I believe the French right will not allow a resolution to the crisis, as it still sees Algeria as a political and electoral bargaining chip. We all know that the 2027 presidential elections are approaching, and issues like immigration and relations with Algeria are key topics that the French right often exploits to attract voters.”
He added, “There’s another factor: the French right is currently leveraging President Macron’s need to build alliances to maintain stability in the National Assembly and prevent the government’s collapse. They’re using this to obstruct any reconciliation with Algeria. While both the Algerian and French presidents have expressed a desire to improve relations, theoretically, we’re heading toward further escalation and a freeze in political contact—but not a complete severance, due to various calculations on both sides.”
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