On 15 April 2025, France expelled 12 Algerian diplomats and recalled its ambassador from Algiera24 hours after Algeria ordered the same number of French staff to leave. The tit for tat expulsions stem from a French investigation into the April 2024 kidnapping of Algerian influencer Amir Boukhors (Amir DZ) and revive historic grievances while threatening co‑operation on migration, counter terrorism and energy across the Mediterranean.
Lead & Timeline
| Date | Event |
| Apr 2024 | Boukhors kidnapped near Paris; three Algerians one a consular employee charged |
| 12 Apr 2025 | Algiers protests France’s detention of the consular official |
| 14 Apr 2025 | Algeria orders 12 French diplomats to quit within 48 h |
| 15 Apr 2025 | Paris responds in kind, recalls its ambassador |
The Boukhors Case
French anti‑terror magistrates report that Amir Boukhors was hand‑cuffed, drugged and confined in a shipping container before release. The alleged mastermind held consular accreditation in Créteil. Algeria denounced his arrest as a “flagrant breach of diplomatic immunity,” warning of reprisals.
Tit‑for‑Tat Expulsions
Algeria’s move: the 12 French officials mostly mid‑level embassy and cultural staff were told to leave for “unacceptable judicial interference.”
France’s riposte: the Élysée insisted diplomatic status does not shield serious crimes and matched the expulsions, with Foreign Minister Jean‑Noël Barrot saying “dialogue cannot go one‑way.”
Deep‑Rooted Tensions
- Colonial scars (1830‑1962): brutal warfare and mass migration still shape public opinion.
• Western Sahara flashpoint: Macron’s 2024 endorsement of Morocco’s autonomy plan enraged Algiers, protector of the Polisario Front.
• Visa & migration rows: Paris slashed Algerian visa quotas in 2023; Algiers accuses France of using migration as leverage.
Domestic Optics
In France, MPs across the National Assembly backed the expulsions, presenting a united front against what they called “hostage diplomacy.”
In Algeria, state media framed the row as a defence of sovereignty, while opposition voices criticised President Tebboune for inflaming nationalism to divert attention from inflation and unemployment.
International Ripples
- European Union: Brussels urged rapid de‑escalation, citing joint Sahel security and migration control.
• United States: the State Department called for restraint, warning extended tensions could undermine regional counter terror partnerships.
6. What’s at Stake?
| Domain | Risks |
| Security | Counter‑terror intelligence sharing in the Sahel may freeze, aiding jihadist networks. |
| Migration | Joint sea‑border patrols and readmission pacts could stall, pressuring EU coastal states. |
| Energy | French firms Engie & TotalEnergies eye Algerian gas; licensing talks now clouded. |
7. Outlook
Diplomats hint at a “technical channel” to isolate the legal dispute from broader relations, but domestic politics French regional elections and Algeria’s 2026 presidential race could prolong the standoff. The first test will be whether both sides join planned May 2025 migration talks in Brussels.
“If both capitals keep playing mirror games, the losers will be ordinary citizens who need visas, trade and security,” notes a Paris‑based Maghreb analyst quoted in *Le Monde*.
