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Join on Telegram Doha – Diplomatic tensions between Paris and Algiers reached new heights today as French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau accused Algeria of attempting to “humiliate France” following a contentious incident involving an expelled Algerian social media influencer on Friday.
The controversy erupted when Algerian authorities refused entry to a 59-year-old TikTok influencer known as “Doualemn,” who had been expelled from France after being arrested in Montpellier for posting content that allegedly called for violence.
The influencer was promptly returned to France Thursday evening after Algeria declared him “forbidden from territory,” according to the Interior Ministry.
“We have reached an extremely concerning threshold with Algeria,” Retailleau declared during a visit to Nantes. “France cannot tolerate this situation. While maintaining our composure, we must now evaluate all means at our disposal regarding Algeria.”
The minister cited international law, specifically the Chicago Convention, arguing that “countries are accountable for their own nationals.”
He emphasized that the expulsion was legally sound as “there was no need for a consular pass since proof of Algerian citizenship was established through a valid biometric passport.”
The incident comes amid mounting tensions between the two countries, particularly following France’s recent shift in position regarding Western Sahara.
President Emmanuel Macron’s alignment with Spain and the United States in July, recognizing the territory’s future “within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty,” has led to a cooling of relations with Algiers while improving ties with Rabat.
Following Macron’s official declaration, the magazine Le Canard Enchaîné revealed that Algeria had begun refusing entry to its deported nationals from France, leaving them in diplomatic limbo.
Even before that, Algeria had caught wind of France’s impending shift in stance and wasted no time in expressing its deep disapproval.
Read also: Deported Algerians Become Pawns in Algeria’s Fury at France’s Western Sahara Position
The country had already denounced France’s anticipated position as “surprising, inappropriate, and counterproductive,” warning of retaliatory measures.
Recent arrests in France of many Algerian influencers appear to have further deepened an already tense situation. Authorities in the French cities of Grenoble and Brest recently detained two other Algerians for posting violent content online, often targeting opponents of the Algerian regime.
Additionally, a Franco-Algerian TikToker was placed in custody in Lyon, along with investigations into two other influencers known as “Abdesslam Bazooka” and “Laksas06.”
Another point of contention is the imprisonment of Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, 75, who has been detained in Algeria since mid-November on charges of undermining state security.
Retailleau addressed the Sansal case in his latest comments, questioning: “Can a great nation honor itself by keeping someone who is sick and elderly in detention for wrong reasons?”
In response to such increasing challenges in Franco-Algerian relations, Retailleau suggested several potential leverage points, including visa policies.
He noted that France issues approximately 200,000 visas annually to Algerian nationals, while receiving fewer than 2,000 consular passes in return.
The minister also mentioned examining customs tariffs at the European Union level and development aid as possible pressure points.
France provided between 111 and 131 million euros annually in development aid to Algeria from 2018 to 2022.
The dispute marks a significant setback in Franco-Algerian relations, which had shown signs of improvement following President Macron’s 2022 initiative for “reconciliation” regarding colonial history.
Commercial ties remain significant, with France serving as Algeria’s third-largest trading partner, accounting for 10.5% of total trade in 2022.
