France will expel Algerian diplomats in response to the removal of French officials from Algiers, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced on Wednesday.
The move follows Algeria’s decision to send home French personnel who were posted in the country on temporary assignments. Speaking to BFMTV, Barrot described their expulsion as “unjustified and unjustifiable”.
“Our response is immediate, it is firm and it is strictly proportionate at this stage,” he said. “We are asking for the return to Algeria of all agents holding diplomatic passports who currently do not have a visa.”
Barrot did not say how many Algerian diplomats would be affected.
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Chargé d’affaires summoned
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“We also made it clear that we reserve the possibility of taking other measures depending on how the situation evolves,” Barrot said. “The Algerians wanted to send our agents home. We are sending theirs back.”
Algeria had earlier summoned the French chargé d’affaires in Algiers on Sunday to inform him of the expulsions. The decision was reported by Algerian state news agency APS, which said the French staff had been appointed under “irregular conditions”.
No formal statement was issued by the Algerian foreign ministry.
France said the expulsions were based on a unilateral decision by Algerian authorities to impose new conditions of entry on French public servants holding official, diplomatic or service passports.
The French foreign ministry said this violated a 2013 bilateral agreement.
Barrot said he “absolutely” regretted the decision taken by Algiers. “They go against the agreements that govern relations between our two countries,” he said. “They are not in France’s interest, and not in the interest of the Algerians either.”
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Background tensions
Ties between France and Algeria have been under strain for months. In mid-April, Algeria expelled 12 French Interior Ministry staff.
France responded by expelling 12 Algerian consular agents and recalling its ambassador, Stéphane Romatet, for consultations.
Barrot said earlier this week that the relationship between the two countries remained “totally frozen”.
Efforts by French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to ease tensions during a meeting in March have so far failed to lead to lasting improvement.
The current dispute follows a broader diplomatic breakdown that began in mid-2024, when France gave full support to Morocco’s plan for autonomy in Western Sahara.
The territory is also claimed by the Polisario Front, which is backed by Algeria. Algiers responded by recalling its ambassador from Paris.
