France expels 12 Algerian officials as row over alleged kidnapping escalates

Summary

France has expelled 12 Algerian consular and diplomatic officials and recalled its ambassador in Algiers, the French presidency said on Tuesday, in a retaliatory measure as a spat escalates between the two countries. “The Algerian authorities are responsible for the sudden degradation of our bilateral relations,” President Emmanuel Macron’s office said. Algiers has been protesting against France’s detention of an Algerian consular agent suspected of involvement in the kidnapping of an Algerian opposition activist. France later said Algeria had expelled 12 of its diplomatic staff. The activist and influencer Amir Boukhors is a critic of the Algerian president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and has more than 1 million subscribers on TikTok, where he posts as Amir DZ.

Additional Summaries

France has recalled its ambassador to Algeria and expelled 12 Algerian diplomats, citing a deterioration in bilateral relations due to Algeria's protest over the detention of one of their consular agents suspected of involvement in the kidnapping of an Algerian opposition activist. The activist, Amir Boukhors, was allegedly kidnapped by men linked to the Algerian consulate but later released. Three people have been arrested in connection with the incident. Tensions between France and Algeria have been ongoing, exacerbated by France’s support for Morocco in the Western Sahara dispute.