In a significant diplomatic crisis, Algeria has demanded the departure of 12 French embassy staff within 48 hours, a move that France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has confirmed is linked to the recent indictment of three Algerian nationals in France — one of whom holds a consular position. This incident has cast a shadow over the already fraught relations between the two countries.

The trio has been charged with the abduction of Amir Boukhors, a vocal critic of Algeria's government and a well-known social media influencer with over a million followers. Boukhors, who has lived in France since 2016 and was granted asylum in 2023, was reportedly abducted in April 2024 in the southern suburbs of Paris. His lawyer, Eric Plouvier, relayed that Boukhors was forcibly taken by individuals posing as police officers, held overnight, and subsequently released in a remote area.

Algerian authorities have painted Boukhors as a "saboteur linked to terrorist groups," issuing nine international arrest warrants against him on various charges, including fraud and affiliations with terrorist organizations. However, he has vehemently denied these allegations, and French courts had previously rejected attempts to extradite him to Algeria.

As tensions mount, Barrot has called on Algeria to retract its expulsion order, indicating that France would respond "immediately" should the expulsions proceed. The French government views the actions against its officials as a retaliatory response to the charges laid against the Algerian nationals — actions unprecedented in Franco-Algerian relations.

The fallout from this diplomatic standoff has already impacted the efforts to restore good relations between France and Algeria. This incident comes on the heels of other notable tensions, such as the arrest of French-Algerian author Boualem Sansal in Algeria for allegedly undermining the nation's territorial integrity, and Algeria's recall of its ambassador to France last year in response to France’s support of Morocco in its claim over the contested Western Sahara territory.

The 12 officials slated for expulsion include members affiliated with the French interior ministry, as reported by diplomatic sources. Barrot, addressing the escalating situation, stated, "I am asking Algerian authorities to abandon these expulsion measures... if the decision to send back our officials is maintained, we will have no other choice but to respond immediately."

In a bid to convey its displeasure, Algeria's foreign ministry summoned French ambassador Stéphane Romatet, emphasizing its "strong protest" and calling for the immediate release of the detained consular official. The ministry criticized the timing of the arrest, suggesting it was a deliberate act aimed at hindering ongoing efforts to renew bilateral relations.

Despite these tensions, there have been recent, albeit fragile, gestures towards reconciliation, including a telephone conversation between French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in March. This communication reportedly focused on existing issues in their bilateral relationship. Following a brief official visit to Algeria, Barrot expressed hopes for a "new phase" in what has been a rocky diplomatic journey between the two nations.

As both countries navigate this complex diplomatic landscape, the commitment to resolving these escalating tensions remains to be seen. The coming days will be critical in determining whether diplomatic ties will further deteriorate or take a turn towards normalization.