The Algerian authorities have decided to expel 12 agents from the French Embassy within 48 hours, an unprecedented decision since 1962.
A choice started in reaction to the indictment of an Algerian official by the national French anti -terrorist prosecution.
Relations between the two countries had however relaxed in recent days, after months of tensions.
A week ago, the chief of French diplomacy Jean-Noël Barrot called for “Sallery”after a visit to Algeria, supposed to end a climb of tensions (new window) In recent months between the two countries. But the lull seems to have been short-lived: the Algerian authorities decided to expel 12 agents from the French embassy within 48 hours, unheard of since the country’s independence, in 1962, learned TF1-LCI from the Quai d’Orsay on Monday, April 14.
This unprecedented decision would have been made after the arrest on Friday arrest by France with three Algerian nationals, including a consular agent, as part of an investigation for removal and forcible confinement (new window). “This new unacceptable and unspeakable development will cause great damage to Algerian-French relations (new window)“reacted the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Paris assured that these arrests did not aim to pass a message to Algiers, which nevertheless reacted.
-“The Algerian authorities ask 12 of our agents to leave Algerian territory within 48 hours. This decision would be a response to the arrest of three Algerian nationals suspected of serious facts on French national territory”explained the Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot in TF1-LCI. “The expulsion of 12 agents in response would be unjustified to the bottom and without any relation to the facts of which the three arrested people are suspected”he deplored.
The Minister “Asks the Algerian authorities to renounce these expulsion measures unrelated to the current legal proceedings”recalling that the two countries have “decided together, with the Algerian government, to retrieve the thread of dialogue in the service of our two countries”. “If the decision to send back our agents was maintained, we will have no choice but to answer them immediately”he warned.
