France expels 12 Algerian officials amid diplomatic escalation
France on Tuesday ordered the expulsion of 12 Algerian diplomats and consular officials and recalled its ambassador in the latest escalation between the two countries.
The measure, announced by President Emmanuel Macron's office, came after Algeria on Sunday ordered 12 French officials to leave within 48 hours in response to the arrest of an Algerian official in France.
The Algerian officials in France have also been given 48 hours to leave.
Macron's office called Algeria's actions "incomprehensible and unjustified" and said Algiers should "resume dialogue" and "take responsibility for the degradation in bilateral relations".
France was "stunned" that relations had taken such a turn just two weeks after a phone call between Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Macron in a bid to repair ties, Macron's office added.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who went to Algiers at the start of the month as part of efforts to ease strains, said that Algeria had "chosen escalation".
Relations became strained last year when France recognised Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara, where Algeria backs the pro-independence Polisario Front.
Ties soured further when Algeria arrested and jailed French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal in November on national security charges.
Sansal 80, is in poor health and his daughters on Tuesday appealed for Macron to secure his release in a commentary for Le Figaro newspaper that said Sansal was "a hostage" of the diplomatic battle.
Algeria's foreign ministry said it had declared the 12 persona non grata after the arrest in France of an Algerian consular official last week which it called a "vile act".
It has accused France's hardline Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau of wrecking the efforts to repair ties.
Algeria has refused to take back nationals France has ordered to leave in recent months, including a 37-year-old who went on a stabbing rampage in the eastern city of Mulhouse in February, killing one person.
Barrot said earlier that Algeria's latest expulsion orders were linked to the arrest of three Algerians, including an employee in an Algerian consulate, in France.
The three were charged on Friday with kidnapping and terrorist conspiracy linked to the abduction of Amir Boukhors, an influencer and exiled opponent of the Algerian government.
Retailleau backed Tuesday's expulsion of the Algerians and said it was "inadmissible that France becomes a playground for the Algerian (security) services."
"In this difficult context, France will defend its interests and continue to demand that Algeria fully fulfil its obligations, in particular with regards to our national security and cooperation on migration," Macron's office commented.
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