France has responded to Algeria’s recent diplomatic move by announcing the expulsion of several Algerian diplomats, deepening an already tense standoff between the two nations.

The decision, described by French authorities as a measure of “strict reciprocity,” follows Algeria’s expulsion of 15 French officials from Algiers on Sunday, May 11.

In a statement released Wednesday, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said it had summoned Algerian representatives to formally communicate its decision. Although the number of Algerian diplomats affected remains unspecified, the ministry stressed that it was responding in kind to Algeria’s actions.

French officials urged Algiers to “demonstrate responsibility and to return to a demanding and constructive dialogue that had been initiated by our authorities, in the interest of both countries.”

The tit-for-tat expulsions mark a new low in Franco-Algerian relations, further straining the diplomatic channels between the two nations. They also appear to contradict a 2013 agreement that permits individuals with diplomatic passports to travel between France and Algeria without a visa.

According to Algerian authorities, the expulsion of the French officials was prompted by alleged procedural breaches, particularly concerning the appointment of new diplomats to replace those previously removed. Algiers claims France failed to follow standard protocol during the reassignment process.

Diplomatic Standoff Escalates Over Expulsions

While France and Algeria maintain longstanding economic and security ties, their relationship has often been complicated by unresolved tensions surrounding immigration, national identity, and the colonial past. These disputes have periodically surfaced in diplomatic incidents like the current one.

One of the most contentious issues remains France’s evolving stance on Western Sahara. In a dramatic policy shift last year, Paris endorsed Morocco’s sovereignty plan for the disputed region. This change angered Algeria, which supports the pro-independence Polisario Front and views the territory as Africa’s last colony.

This simmering diplomatic row now threatens more than $12 billion in annual bilateral trade and could disrupt the travel and administrative ease for the hundreds of thousands of Algerian-born residents in France who frequently move between both countries.

Moreover, in what French officials described as a “symmetrically” calibrated response, 12 Algerian diplomats were expelled, and France’s ambassador to Algiers was recalled to Paris for consultations, according to a statement from the French presidential palace.

Adding another layer of complexity, France’s counterterrorism prosecutors recently charged three Algerian nationals with “kidnapping or arbitrary detention … in connection with a terrorist undertaking.” The trio is suspected of being involved in the April 2024 abduction of Amir Boukhors, better known as Amir DZ, an Algerian social media influencer and vocal critic of the Algerian regime. Boukhors boasts over 1.1 million followers on TikTok and has used the platform to challenge government narratives.

Algeria’s foreign affairs ministry reacted strongly, especially to the arrest of one consular official reportedly linked to the case. It accused France of attempting to “humiliate Algeria, with no consideration for the consular status of this agent, disregarding all diplomatic customs and practices, and in flagrant violation of the relevant conventions and treaties.”

The ongoing tensions suggest that the rift between the two countries is unlikely to heal soon, especially as diplomatic norms continue to be tested by mounting political and legal disputes.