Algeria on Tuesday summoned French Ambassador Stephane Romatet lodging a strong protest against “provocative” treatment of Algerian citizens at airports in Paris.
The Foreign Ministry said in a press release that such actions are “absolutely unacceptable”, and voiced concern over “matching testimonies from several Algerian citizens” about the “provocative, degrading, and discriminatory” treatment they received from border police at Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports.
The ministry demanded that the French envoy inform the government of the need to “take all necessary measures to end these actions and practices.”
Earlier in the day, three Algerian newspapers, including the government-backed El Moudjahid, said travellers arriving at Paris airports on Monday were subjected to “extremely poor treatment.”
The reports said Paris airport authorities “intentionally closed all visa windows upon the arrival of Algerian passengers, leaving only one open for them.”
Travellers “waited in line for longer than the duration of the flight itself” to have their passports stamped.
Algerian media outlets accused French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau of being behind the “maltreatment” of Algerians, describing him as “vindictive” and blaming him for what they called a “retaliatory measure.”
Relations between Algeria and France have been increasingly strained in recent months, following France’s recognition of Morocco’s autonomy proposal for the disputed Western Sahara region.
Algeria, on the other hand, supports the Polisario Front, which rejects autonomy and advocates for the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination.
Diplomatic ties between Algeria and France remain volatile, particularly due to unresolved issues stemming from France’s colonisation of Algeria for 132 years. Paris has refused to fully address the historical grievances that continue to affect Algerian society.