A growing dispute between France and Algeria has intensified following France’s controversial attempt to deport 60 Algerians. The spat marks a sharp deterioration in relations between the two nations, whose ties have been strained for years.
On Monday, Algeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected France’s list of individuals flagged for expulsion, labeling them as “dangerous.” The list, provided by France’s Interior Ministry, bypassed diplomatic norms, denying the deportees their right to a fair trial. The ministry condemned France’s use of “ultimatums” and “coercive language.”
France has been under increasing pressure from right-wing politicians to tighten immigration policies. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, responding to the rejection, hinted at retaliatory measures, including potentially severing longstanding immigration agreements. The list in question is the first public instance of France outlining individuals slated for deportation.
Among those targeted is a 37-year-old man convicted for his role in a deadly stabbing in eastern France and a group of TikTok influencers convicted for inciting violence. Despite the push for expulsions, France has struggled with a low success rate, with fewer than 10% of deportation orders resulting in actual expulsions.
The dispute comes amid rising political dissatisfaction in Algeria, where officials have capitalized on the growing tensions with France. Algeria’s refusal to accept deportees stems from concerns over the fairness of their trials.
Relations between the two countries, already fraught since Algeria’s independence from France more than 60 years ago, have worsened further under French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. As tensions simmer, both nations face a complex and escalating diplomatic standoff.