The relationship between France and Algeria has reached a new low following a diplomatic standoff over deportations, prompting Paris to take punitive measures against Algerian officials. French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin recently announced plans to revoke a longstanding agreement that grants Algerian officials and diplomats visa-free travel to France. This move comes as a direct response to what France perceives as a deliberate attempt by Algiers to “humiliate” Paris.
The Deportation Controversy
The diplomatic flare-up was triggered by the case of Doualemn, a 59-year-old Algerian social media influencer, who was arrested in Montpellier for allegedly inciting violence against opponents of the Algerian government. France deported him to Algeria last week, but Algiers swiftly sent him back. A French judge later extended his detention for another 26 days, further inflaming tensions.
Darmanin, addressing the situation, stated that the refusal to accept the deportation amounted to “humiliation” for France and vowed swift retaliatory action. Algeria’s Foreign Ministry, however, dismissed France’s claims, condemning the move as “arbitrary and abusive.”
France’s Retaliation: Ending Visa Privileges for Algerian Officials
The key measure France is now taking involves scrapping a 2013 agreement that allows Algerian officials holding diplomatic passports to enter France without visas.
“This agreement allows thousands of people with Algerian official or diplomatic passports to enter France freely,” Darmanin stated, justifying its termination as a strategic and effective response to Algeria’s perceived defiance.
Calls to Abolish the 1968 Agreement Intensify
This dispute has reignited long-standing debates in France about its 1968 immigration agreement with Algeria. The agreement, signed six years after Algeria’s independence, granted Algerians special privileges for travel, residency, and employment in France. Over the years, it has been revised multiple times but remains a contentious issue.
Under this arrangement, Algerian nationals can obtain a 10-year residency permit after just three years of living in France—whereas other foreign nationals typically need five years.
Several French politicians, including former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe and Republican Party leader Bruno Retailleau, have called for its renegotiation, arguing that it is outdated and grants Algeria undue leverage over France. However, since the agreement is bilateral, it cannot be unilaterally revoked.
“If Algeria refuses to renegotiate, then nothing will happen,” immigration lawyer Mervé Erol confirmed to French media outlet Le Parisien.
Algeria-France Relations: A Fragile Partnership Fracturing Further
France’s increasingly strained relations with Algeria have been further complicated by Paris’s recent pivot towards Morocco. A turning point came when France formally backed Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara, a disputed territory where Algeria supports the separatist Polisario Front.
This move, once unthinkable, was met with immediate backlash from Algiers, which saw it as a betrayal. Following this diplomatic shift, Algeria froze its bilateral cooperation with France on multiple fronts, including trade and security.
A former Algerian diplomat, speaking anonymously to The New Arab, summarized Algeria’s stance bluntly: “This is not just another crisis. [France] is no longer a partner with disagreements… it’s now an enemy.”
What’s Next for France-Algeria Relations?
While France’s decision to revoke visa-free privileges for Algerian officials may be a symbolic flex of diplomatic muscle, the underlying fractures in their relationship run much deeper. The intersection of immigration policy, post-colonial legacies, and geopolitical maneuvering continues to fuel tensions between the two nations.
With Algeria refusing to back down and France doubling down on its punitive measures, the future of their diplomatic relationship remains uncertain. As both sides hold firm, this latest dispute could mark the beginning of a more prolonged diplomatic breakdown between the two historically intertwined nations.
