African state scraps visa-free deal for French diplomats
The Algerian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Paris had informed Algiers of its suspension of the 2013 Algeria-France accord that exempted diplomatic and official passport holders from visa requirements. It said a senior French embassy official was summoned to a meeting where two notes verbales were delivered, one of which denounced France's decision.
'This denunciation goes beyond the simple suspension previously notified by the French side and definitively puts an end to the very existence of this agreement,' it stated.
'It [Algiers] reserves the right to apply to the issuance of these visas the same conditions as those set by the French Government for Algerian nationals. This is a strict application of the principle of reciprocity,' the ministry added.
Fragile relations between Paris and its former colony began deteriorating in July 2024, when French President Emmanuel Macron endorsed a controversial Moroccan autonomy plan for the disputed territory of Western Sahara.
Last month, Algeria withdrew all privileged access cards granted to staff of the French Embassy at the country's ports and airports, describing it as a reciprocal move in response to restrictions placed on its diplomats in France.
On Wednesday, Le Figaro reported that Macron had sent a letter to French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou directing him to tighten visa requirements for Algerian diplomats. He also reportedly asked his interior minister to seek support from other Schengen countries in enforcing the policy, including by consulting France before issuing short-stay visas to Algerian officials and to holders of passports covered by the 2013 agreement.
'France must be strong and command respect. It can only receive this from its partners if it shows them the respect it demands from them,' Macron said.
In response, Algeria said it is additionally terminating the free provision of state-owned properties used by the French Embassy in Algiers as part of efforts to 'introduce balance' in bilateral ties.
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