Algeria has expelled two French intelligence agents accused of entering the country using fake diplomatic passports, deepening an already simmering diplomatic crisis.
The agents, linked to France’s Directorate of Internal Security, reportedly violated legal protocols upon arrival, according to Algeria International TV, a state-run broadcaster.
Describing the move as a “maneuver” orchestrated by French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, Algerian media portrayed the act as deliberate and provocative.
French authorities have remained silent on the expulsions, offering no official response to the allegations or the incident.
The expulsions follow a sharp diplomatic exchange between Algiers and Paris that began last month, when Algeria expelled 12 French embassy staff.
That move was prompted by the arrest in Paris of an Algerian consular employee, allegedly connected to the kidnapping of a political influencer opposed to Algiers.
France retaliated by expelling 12 Algerian diplomats and summoning its ambassador home for consultations, further straining bilateral ties.
A brief effort to ease tensions came with a late March phone call between President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and President Emmanuel Macron, followed by a visit from a French minister.
Despite public pledges to restore cooperation, relations have deteriorated further, suggesting a deeper geopolitical rupture.
Historical grievances linger beneath the surface, particularly stemming from France’s brutal colonisation of Algeria between 1830 and 1962.
While both sides have often spoken of reconciliation, mistrust and diplomatic sparring continue to overshadow progress.
Sunday’s expulsion marks a new low, casting doubt over any near-term resolution between the two former colonial entanglers.
