Relations between France and Algeria are experiencing a new escalation. “Algeria seeks to humiliate France” warns the French Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau.
The controversial expulsion of Algerian influencer Doualemn to his country of origin, followed by his immediate return to France, provoked strong reactions from the French government.
An unprecedented diplomatic incident
Arrested in Montpellier after the broadcast of a video with hateful content on TikTok, Doualemn was deported to Algeria on Thursday. Except that it’s back to square one: his country of origin refuses him entry into Algerian territory and sends him back to Paris the same day. A decision denounced by Bruno Retailleau, who describes this behavior of the Algerian authorities as a violation of international rules. “I think that France cannot tolerate this situation. »
In total, three Algerians and a Franco-Algerian woman were recently arrested for their online content – content that called for violent acts against those who oppose the Algerian regime.
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No “other possibility than to retaliate”
Faced with this Algerian refusal, France could resort to diplomatic and economic levers, in particular by reducing the number of visas granted or by revising development aid. This idea was mentioned by several members of the government, including Gabriel Attal, former Prime Minister, who advocates denouncing the Franco-Algerian agreement of 1968 in order to “set the limits” and establish a balance of power with Algiers.
France will have “no other option than to retaliate” if “the Algerians continue this escalating posture” explains Jean-Noël Barrot, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Minister of the Interior also announced his intention to strengthen control of consular posts abroad which issue visas for France. “Visas must be a tool of influence, but also of control over immigration,” he said on LCI. “I would like us to be able to monitor very closely the 20 consular posts which are abroad and which distribute the majority of the number of visas for the destination France. »
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