![France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot delivers a speech during the annual conference of French ambassadors at the International Conference Centre of the French Foreign Affairs ministry in Paris on January 6, 2025. [Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-2192158323-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
France said on Monday that Algeria has threatened to expel 12 of its diplomatic staff and that it would take immediate reprisals should that occur in the latest flare-up between them, Reuters has reported.
Algeria protested over the weekend against Frances’s detention of an Algerian consular agent suspected of involvement in the kidnapping of an Algerian citizen. French media said that three people, including the diplomat, were under investigation over the seizure of Algerian government opponent Amir Boukhors.
“The Algerian authorities are demanding that 12 of our agents leave Algerian territory within 48 hours,” said French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. “If the decision to expel our agents is maintained, we will have no choice but to respond immediately.”
There was no immediate confirmation from Algeria of an imminent expulsion of French diplomats.
France’s relations with its former colony have long been complicated, but took a turn for the worse last year when French President Emmanuel Macron angered Algeria by backing Morocco’s position over the disputed Western Sahara region.
Only last week, though, Barrot had said that ties between Paris and Algiers were returning to normal after a visit to Algeria.
READ: Algeria laments US support for Moroccan position on Western Sahara