Algeria orders exit of French officials amid rocky relations

Algeria has ordered a dozen French officials to leave the country within 48 hours, increasing diplomatic tension between the two countries.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot asserted on Monday that the order is linked to the recent arrest of three Algerian nationals suspected of kidnapping a high-profile critic of the Algerian government in Paris last year.

Barrot asked the Algerian authorities to “abandon these expulsion measures”, saying if they persisted with their decision, France would have no choice but to “respond immediately”.

A diplomatic source told the AFP news agency that the 12 included some members of the French Ministry of the Interior.

Last week, French prosecutors indicted three Algerians, including a consular official, on suspicion of involvement in the kidnapping of Amir Boukhors.

The men, who were placed in pre-trial detention, are also being prosecuted for “terrorist” conspiracy.

An opponent of the Algerian government, the social media influencer has more than one million followers on TikTok under the name of “Amir DZ”.

Boukhors, who was granted asylum by France in 2023, was taken in a Paris suburb in April last year and released the following day, according to his lawyer.

Algiers is demanding he return to face trial, having issued nine international arrest warrants against him on accusations of fraud and terror offences.