French Minister of Justice Gérald Darmanin announced on January 12 his intention to end the 2013 agreement that allows holders of Algerian diplomatic passports to travel to France without a visa.
This statement, made on the LCI news channel, comes amid growing diplomatic tensions between Paris and Algiers.
The agreement, in effect for a decade, allows Algerian diplomatic passport holders to move freely within French territory without the need for a visa. According to Darmanin, thousands of Algerian diplomatic passport holders benefit from this special arrangement.
However, he noted that this retaliatory measure would be targeted, affecting only the Algerian political and governing elites.
The minister reassured Algeria that “this decision will not concern Algerians or French people who maintain economic, social, or cultural ties with France. They should not bear the consequences of the political leaders.”
This statement follows the failed expulsion of an Algerian blogger, who was deported for posting a controversial TikTok video on January 9.
Expelled to Algiers, the individual was sent back to France the same evening, highlighting a failure in coordinating the process for his deportation.
Gérald Darmanin reacted strongly to this turn of events, stating that the situation was no longer tenable and that decisive actions must be taken to protect France’s interests.
The Algerian diplomatic service, through its spokesperson, condemned the expulsion, calling it “arbitrary and abusive.”
The Algerian government also rejected French accusations of “escalation” and “humiliation,” viewing the incident as a disrespect of its bilateral agreements with the former colonial power.
The proposal to ditch the 2013 agreement could mark a new stage in the already tense relations between France and Algeria.
While Paris seeks to send a strong message to Algerian leaders, this move risks escalating tensions further.
However, by targeting only the elites, the French government seems intent on avoiding a deterioration of its ties with Algerian civil society and ordinary Algerians.
MK/ac/lb/as/APA