France has pledged to take immediate and forceful action after Algeria announced its intention to expel additional French officials, escalating an already tense diplomatic standoff between the
two countries.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, speaking on Monday, condemned Algeria’s decision as “incomprehensible and brutal,” promising a swift and proportional response. “We will respond immediately, firmly, and in a manner proportionate to the harm done to our interests,” Barrot stated during remarks in Normandy.
Barrot expressed regret over the situation, saying, “It is a decision I deplore because it serves neither the interests of Algeria nor those of France.”
According to a French diplomatic source speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, Algeria formally notified the French chargé d'affaires in Algiers on Sunday of the new expulsions. The officials targeted are reportedly part of temporary reinforcement missions, though the exact number and timing of their departure remain unclear.
This latest move follows a reciprocal round of expulsions in April. France expelled 12 Algerian diplomats and consular staff after Algeria ordered a similar number of French officials to leave, a reaction to the arrest of an Algerian national on French soil.
Tensions have been simmering between the two nations, exacerbated last year when France officially recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara — a territory where Algeria supports the pro-independence Polisario Front.
Relations deteriorated further in November after Algerian authorities arrested and imprisoned French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal on national security charges.
Beyond current disputes, Franco-Algerian ties continue to be strained by historical grievances, particularly the legacy of the 1954–1962 Algerian War of Independence, during which French forces were accused of widespread human rights abuses, including arbitrary killings and detentions. Photo by Celette, Wikimedia commons.