The recent arrest of three Algerian influencers in France, authors of calls for violence and hatred on social networks, highlights growing tensions between Paris and Algiers. What might seem like a simple news item actually raises complex questions about bilateral relations between the two countries.
In this context, Jean-Noël Barrot, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed “doubts” as to Algiers’ real desire to respect its commitments to France, denouncing postures which move away from the “road map agreed. »
Facts that reveal a murky strategy
Between January 3 and 5, 2025, three Algerian influencers residing in France were arrested for violent and hateful remarks broadcast on TikTok. These individuals, under obligations to leave French territory (OQTF), were arrested after having launched explicit calls for murder, mass rape and terrorist acts. Among them, Youcef A., alias “Zazou Youcef,” already known for his problems with the French justice system, caused massive indignation by calling for opponents of the Algerian regime to be “burned alive.”
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These facts highlight a worrying trend, revealing an irresponsible use of social networks to amplify hate speech. This virulent content, followed by hundreds of thousands of subscribers, fuels tensions and provokes a firm response from the French authorities.
A Franco-Algerian relationship already weakened
These arrests come in a tense diplomatic climate. France’s implicit recognition of the Moroccan character of the Sahara was perceived by Algiers as a provocation, fueling historical tensions with Paris. Since then, the Algerian regime has increased its provocations, going so far as to reduce its cooperation on visas while intensifying its anti-French rhetoric. Jean-Noël Barrot stressed that “Algiers’ current postures raise the question of their real desire to maintain a constructive relationship with France. »
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This series of events reveals a confrontational strategy of the Algerian regime, which seeks to divert attention from its internal failures by stoking tensions abroad. According to observers, this approach only reinforces Algiers’ diplomatic isolation.
An exploitation of social networks
The Algerian influencers arrested turned out to be relays of hate speech that goes beyond the simple framework of social networks. Their videos, followed by hundreds of thousands of subscribers, explicitly call for acts of violence in France, particularly against opponents of the Algerian regime. These actions raise questions about the social and political dynamics that encourage this type of behavior.
“This hateful speech, amplified by digital platforms, constitutes a threat to social cohesion and must be firmly condemned,” declare several French officials. This content reveals a form of extremism which finds an alarming echo within certain segments of the diaspora. An Algerian YouTuber residing in France, for his part, believes, in a widely relayed message, that “Algerian propaganda which demonized Algerian opponents of the regime, in Algeria and abroad, contributed to fueling hate speech, the results of which we see through the output of these crazy people on social media.” As for whether these influencers were mobilized by the Algiers regime, the YouTuber prefers to “let the French investigators do their work and determine the real leaders of this affair”.
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A moral and political crisis for Algiers
The influencer affair also sheds light on the deep crisis the Algerian regime is going through. Mired in corruption scandals, latent social protest and a loss of geopolitical influence, the regime seems to be bogged down in provocative strategies to divert attention from its failures. The progressive “loss” of the Moroccan Sahara, with growing international recognition of the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco, seems to have exacerbated this feeling of decline.
This situation reflects a dynamic of withdrawal and confrontation, further distancing Algiers from constructive international initiatives. The consequences of this strategy are particularly visible on the regional scene, where Algeria is struggling to impose its vision.
An impact on security in France
The matter is not limited to a simple diplomatic tension. It has direct repercussions on security in France, particularly within the Algerian community. The hateful and violent comments of influencers, widely distributed on platforms like TikTok, fuel a climate of fear and division among Franco-Algerian communities. These tensions exacerbate the challenges for the French authorities in terms of maintaining order and social cohesion.
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Experts warn of the risk of increased radicalization within certain groups, encouraged by irresponsible and inflammatory speech. These signals call for increased vigilance and decisive action.
The Boualem Sansal affair and its extensions
The detention of Algerian writer Boualem Sansal for his criticism of the regime highlights a moral crisis in the Algiers regime. This finds a related extension through the fascistic attitude of pro-regime influencers, driven by the desire to prevent free speech, who broadcast calls for hatred before being finally arrested by the French authorities.
The reaction of influencers is identical to that of the regime against the free speech of Boualem Sansal. The repression of intellectual dissent is prolonged and relayed by individuals promoting violence and hatred on social networks.
Reacting in this effervescent context, French President Emmanuel Macron strongly criticized Algeria for the arrest and detention of the Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, incarcerated since November for endangering state security. During a meeting with ambassadors at the Elysée, Macron denounced a situation which “dishonors” Algeria, calling for the immediate release of this seriously ill “freedom fighter”.
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The Algerian influencer affair raises profound questions about Algiers’ priorities. The actions of the Algerian regime, whether manipulations on social networks or confrontational diplomacy, only further widen the gap between Algiers and a number of capitals, including Paris.
