Algeria Orders French Diplomats to Leave Within 48 Hours After Arrest of Three Algerian Nationals in Paris

Algeria has ordered 12 French embassy officials to leave the country within 48 hours. France’s Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, confirmed the expulsion on Monday. He said it was linked to the recent arrest of three Algerian nationals in Paris. One of them is a consular staff member.

The three were charged over the kidnapping of Amir Boukhors, a well-known critic of the Algerian government. Boukhors, also known as Amir DZ, was granted asylum in France in 2023. He has more than one million followers online and has lived in France since 2016.

Algeria claims Boukhors is linked to terrorist groups and has issued nine international arrest warrants for him. Boukhors denies all the accusations. In 2022, French courts refused to extradite him, citing concerns about the fairness of a possible trial in Algeria.

Boukhors was kidnapped on 29 April 2024 in the southern suburbs of Paris. His lawyer said he was forced into a car by men pretending to be police officers. He was released the next day in a wooded area.

According to his lawyer, Éric Plouvier, Boukhors had been attacked twice before. One attack happened in 2022. The second was on the night of his abduction.

French authorities charged the three Algerians with kidnapping, illegal detention, and being part of a terrorist group. Algeria has strongly denied the allegations.

In response, Algeria’s Foreign Ministry summoned the French Ambassador to Algiers, Stéphane Romatet. It accused France of arresting the consular officer without following diplomatic procedures. The ministry said the arrest was carried out in public without prior notice.

Algeria claimed the arrest was political and accused France of trying to disrupt efforts to repair their relationship. The ministry said the arrest happened at a sensitive time when both countries worked to improve ties. Barrot has urged Algeria to drop the expulsion order.

If the decision to send back our officials is maintained, we will have no other choice but to respond immediately, he said.

A diplomatic source told AFP that some expelled officials work for France’s Interior Ministry. This dispute is the latest in a series of clashes between France and Algeria. 2023 Algeria withdrew its ambassador after France backed Morocco’s claim to the Western Sahara.

Algeria has not officially confirmed the expulsion order. However, the French government insists it has received formal notice.

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