The French authorities have announced that the country has decided to expel Algerians who hold diplomatic passports but no visas, marking a new stage in tensions between the two countries.
The decision of France comes as a retaliatory measure following the expulsion of 15 French officials by Algeria, Schengen.News reports.
Without specifying the number of Algerian diplomats that have been expelled from the French territory, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, Jean-Noël Barrot, said that France’s response is “proportionate”.
Our response is immediate, it is firm and it is strictly proportionate at this stage, with the same request, that is to say, the return to Algeria of all agents holding diplomatic passports who do not currently have a visa.
Minister Barrot further revealed that the French authorities have already informed the Algerian chargé d’affaires of the measures that the country has decided to take, Radio France Internationale explains.
He did not share if the Algerian authorities said anything in response to the expulsions, but according to Minister Barrot, this is what Algeria wanted, calling the country’s decision “unjustified”.
We also informed him that we reserve the right to take further measures depending on how the situation develops. The Algerians wanted to dismiss our agents. We are dismissing theirs.
Algeria Demanded Immediate Expulsion of French Officials on Sunday
On May 11, the Algerian authorities demanded that the 15 French officials be expelled from the country immediately.
The 15 French officials were sent to Algeria as temporary reinforcements in the visa sector, which has been dealing with shortages since mid-April following the expulsion of some other officials.
According to the Algerian authorities, the reason for the expulsion of the French officials was the failure of the French side to establish procedures for assigning agents to the French diplomatic and consular representations in Algeria.
The Algerian authorities further said that the French employees have been appointed under irregular conditions.
Commenting on the matter, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said that the expulsion of the French officials was taken based on a unilateral decision by the Algerian authorities.
The authorities further indicated that the relationship between France and Algeria has remained totally frozen since the expulsion of 12 French officials by Algerian authorities last month.