French-Algerian relations are in a state of ongoing tension, with political and economic issues intertwined with historical backgrounds, making a complete separation between the two countries difficult, if not impossible. While France uses immigration as leverage to pressure Algeria, the latter also possesses influential tools, most notably in energy and economic relations, which makes the relationship between the two countries resemble a “tightrope” that cannot be easily severed. Immigration is one of the key issues fueling tension. France, which seeks to tighten its policies against migrants, has found itself facing legal and diplomatic obstacles when dealing with Algeria. According to Abidi, Algeria “insists on respecting the rights of its citizens in France, which places restrictions on the rapid administrative deportation process.”
Algeria itself has a list of individuals wanted by Algerian courts who reside in France, but extraditing these individuals faces legal challenges, especially those who have been granted political asylum. While France tries to impose its conditions, Abidi believes that “France knows that pressuring Algeria on this issue will not be easy, especially since other countries do not cooperate in deportation matters as they should, but Paris is specifically focusing on Algeria,” which angers the Algerian authorities and further complicates relations.
One of the controversial issues in bilateral relations is the 1968 agreement that defines the conditions for the residency of Algerians in France. Paris seeks to revise this agreement and introduce amendments to make deportation processes easier, but according to Abidi, “the threat to cancel the agreement could be a significant blow to French-Algerian relations, especially as it is directly linked to the Evian Agreement, which formed the legal basis for Algeria’s independence.”
Recently, tensions flared up again between the two countries after French authorities began investigating an official from the Ministry of Economy accused of “espionage for the Algerian intelligence services and providing information about Algerian opponents in France,” along with an immigration department employee who collaborated with him. According to Le Parisien newspaper, sources stated that the official worked in a sub-department of the Ministry of Economy and Finance and provided confidential information about Algerian citizens opposing the regime in France to the Algerian foreign intelligence services.
The official, who holds dual French-Algerian nationality, was arrested on December 16, 2024, by the French Directorate General for Internal Security (DGSI). He was providing information related to the opponents of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s regime. On December 19, he was charged with espionage-related crimes, including “collaborating with a foreign power” and providing “a set of data that undermines the essential interests of the nation.”
According to the newspaper, he held the position of sector director in the digital sub-division of the Ministry of Economy’s central administration, which allowed him access to confidential data and files. Additionally, the information transferred concerned the identity and location of Algerian citizens in France, especially political opponents. His espionage activities targeted “influencers” of Algerian descent in France who have a large following on social media.
The crisis between the two countries escalated further with the imprisonment of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal in Algeria in mid-November due to statements he made in France to a well-known French website associated with the far-right. In those statements, he adopted a pro-Moroccan stance, claiming that Moroccan lands were seized from the kingdom under French colonialism for the benefit of Algeria. The arrest of Algerian influencers by French authorities earlier this year on charges of inciting violence, and the attempt to deport Algerians whom Algeria refused to accept, further aggravated the situation.
