Algeria issued a sharp protest against France on Saturday following the detention of an Algerian consular agent over kidnapping allegations.
The agent was reportedly arrested in connection with the abduction of Amir Boukhors, a vocal critic of the Algerian regime residing in France.
French authorities have placed three individuals under investigation, including the consular official, marking a rare legal move in bilateral diplomatic history.
Algeria’s Foreign Ministry denounced the detention as an “unprecedented judicial turn,” accusing France of sabotaging efforts to restore ties.
The ministry warned the action would “severely damage Algerian-French relations” and vowed not to let the matter pass without repercussions.
Algeria described Boukhors as “a saboteur linked to terrorist groups,” deepening the political rift surrounding the controversial case.
Relations between the two nations have long been strained, with colonial legacies and regional rivalries fueling repeated confrontations.
Tensions escalated last year when French President Emmanuel Macron backed Moroccan claims over Western Sahara, angering Algiers.
Further friction emerged last month when Algeria sentenced French-Algerian author Boualem Sansal to five years for allegedly undermining national unity.
Though France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot recently claimed ties were “back to normal,” this new crisis casts doubt over diplomatic progress.
Observers warn that the detention could derail recent efforts to stabilize a relationship vital to both nations’ security and economic interests.
