The escalation Comes after Algeria kicked out French diplomats amid tensions over an arrested consular worker linked to a kidnap case
France – France decided on Tuesday to expel “twelve agents serving in the Algerian consular and diplomatic network in France”. She also recalled for consultations the French ambassador to Algiers, Stéphane Romatet, in retaliation for the twelve expulsions of French officials announced by Algeria.
Another upsurge in tensions between Algeria and France. Emmanuel Macron decided, according to the Elysée, on Tuesday 15 April, to expel “twelve agents serving in the Algerian consular and diplomatic network in France” and to recall the French ambassador Stéphane Romatet in Algiers for consultations. « The Algerian authorities are taking responsibility for a brutal deterioration of our bilateral relations », said the French Presidency in a statement, while calling on Algiers to “demonstrate responsibility” to “take back the dialogue”. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said on Cnews on Tuesday “unacceptable, really unacceptable that France is a playground for Algerian services”.
It also considered that the Elysée’s reply to expel “twelve agents serving in the Algerian consular and diplomatic network in France”, to the dismissal of twelve French officials of the Ministry of the Interior by the Algerian authorities, to “paraithedly to be entirely appropriate”. Algeria must comply with its obligations, particularly in the field of migration despite the “differences” with France, said the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot on TF1.
“We will continue to respect the Algerian authorities in their obligations. The obligation to respect the agreements governing our relation ship on migration cooperation, but also on security cooperation”, he said shortly after the announcement by the Elysée.
The twelve French officials expelled by Algeria are “en route to France”, a French diplomatic source said.
In its communiqué, the Élysée expressed its “consternation” after this sudden cold, which took place just 15 days after an appeal between President Macron and his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who was supposed to relaunch relations after months of crisis.
The Algerian authorities declared on Sunday persona non grata 12 French officials of the Ministry of the Interior, giving them 48 hours to leave Algeria, in response to the arrest in France and then to his detention of an Algerian consular agent. The expulsion of these French people “discovered the basic rules of our judicial procedures” and “is unjustified and incomprehensible”, said the French Presidency.
“In this context, France will symmetrically expel twelve agents serving in the Algerian consular and diplomatic network in France” and “the President of the Republic has decided to call for consultations the French Ambassador to Algiers, Stéphane Romatet”, she added.
BY: The Times Union
