New diplomatic crisis between Algeria and France after Amira Bouraoui case
Relations between Algeria and France are going through a new phase of tension following the arrival in Paris of the Algerian journalist and activist Amira Bouraoui, an opponent of Abdelmadjid Tebboune's government.
Bouraoui, who also holds French nationality, entered Tunisia illegally, fleeing the growing repression of Algerian activists linked to Hirak, as well as independent journalists. France, through its embassy in Tunis, intervened to prevent Bouraoui from being extradited to Algeria, and succeeded in getting the Tunisian government of Kais Saied to allow the journalist to leave the country on a flight to Lyon.
This action, as was to be expected, has provoked anger in Algiers, which has responded by recalling its ambassador in Paris, Said Moussi, for consultations "with immediate effect". In a statement, the Algerian Foreign Ministry condemned France's move as a "violation of national sovereignty". Algiers accuses "diplomatic, consular and security authorities under the responsibility of the French state" of participating "in a clandestine and illegal operation to exfiltrate an Algerian national whose presence in the country is required by a court decision". In the note, the Algerian Ministry also stresses that this "inadmissible" act causes "great damage to Algerian-French relations".
For its part, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has indicated, through its spokesman, François Delmas, that Paris "intends to continue working to deepen bilateral relations", as reported by AFP. With regard to the withdrawal of the Algerian ambassador, Delmas pointed out that it is "a decision by Algeria" and therefore "it is not up to him" to comment on the matter. However, he stressed that Bouraoui is "a French national and, as such, the French authorities exercise their consular protection". "It is a procedure that is not out of the ordinary in any way", he added.
????| La France réagit officiellement à l'affaire à travers le porte parole du MAE, François Delmas :
— Morocco Intelligence (@MoroccoIntel) February 10, 2023
« Amira Bouraoui est une ressortissante française et qu’à ce titre, les autorités françaises exercent leur protection consulaire ». https://t.co/oJNTZktJHO pic.twitter.com/KSerRMBgl7
This affair has clouded Franco-Algerian relations which, after several months of tension, had reached a certain calm following the visit to Algiers of French President Emmanuel Macron, who agreed with Tebboune to "renew" the bilateral partnership through a joint declaration.
Since then, Paris and Algiers have taken important steps to strengthen ties in different areas. In this respect, the visit to France by the Algerian army chief of staff, Said Chengriha, in January is worth mentioning. However, like France, other European countries have sought to strengthen relations with Algeria, particularly in the energy sector.
However, France's rapprochement with Algeria has also been criticised within Europe for Algiers' repression of activists and journalists. In recent months, the Algerian regime has alarmingly increased its persecution of critics and opponents. Recent measures against freedom of expression include the recent dissolution of the Algerian League for the Defence of Human Rights (LADDH), as well as the closure of several independent media outlets and the arrest of journalists such as Ihsane el-Kadi, who has been in prison since December.
