Date: December 15, 2024
The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the French ambassador, Stéphane Romatet, last week, expressing strong condemnation over what Algeria described as “hostile practices aimed at destabilizing the country,” according to reports from multiple Algerian newspapers on Sunday.
The incident further strains already tense Algerian-French relations, which have been deteriorating for months. Algeria previously recalled its ambassador from Paris in the summer of 2024 following France’s support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, a stance that directly clashes with Algeria’s position.
Allegations of Hostile Intelligence Activities
Algerian government daily El Moudjahid reported that Ambassador Romatet was summoned to receive Algeria’s “stern warning” regarding repeated “provocations and hostile acts” by French security agencies. The paper highlighted specific allegations of meetings held in French diplomatic missions within Algeria, involving consular staff affiliated with France’s Direction Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure (DGSE), the French foreign intelligence agency.
According to Le Soir d’Algérie, the DGSE is accused of organizing activities targeting Algerian state institutions with the alleged goal of destabilization. These include attempts to recruit former Algerian militants, some of whom previously operated in conflict zones like Syria and Iraq. State-run Algerian television recently broadcast a documentary claiming that the Algerian intelligence services had thwarted a DGSE plot involving these recruits.
The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reportedly conveyed its “deep indignation and rejection” of such actions, warning France of severe consequences. It emphasized that these operations go beyond unfriendly gestures, accusing France of deliberate efforts to harm Algeria’s stability.
Broader Context of Strained Relations
This diplomatic rift is not an isolated event. French-Algerian relations have been plagued by a series of disputes, ranging from historical grievances to political disagreements over the Western Sahara conflict. Algeria, a staunch supporter of the Polisario Front and the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination, views France’s alignment with Morocco as a betrayal.
Compounding tensions is the ongoing detention of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal in Algeria. Detained since November 16, Sansal faces charges of “harming territorial integrity,” with speculation that his arrest was linked to statements he made to far-right French media. In these remarks, Sansal allegedly endorsed Moroccan claims that colonial France had annexed Moroccan land to Algeria.
Algeria’s Firm Response
The Algerian government has taken a strong stance, indicating that it will no longer tolerate actions perceived as infringing on its sovereignty. Officials conveyed their frustration with France’s “double standards” and declared their readiness to respond firmly to any further provocations.
The recent diplomatic developments mark a new low in relations between the two countries, with Algeria signaling its determination to protect its national sovereignty and stability at all costs.
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Author: Nor-Eleslam
