A non -firm, and a diplomatic show that continues. Algeria refused on Monday, March 17, the list of names of sixty Algerians on Monday, March 17 to expel that France submitted to it a few days ago. This approach is “rejected on the form and substance” by Algiers, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “The Algerian authorities have decided not to follow up on the list submitted by the French authorities” and “invited them to follow the usage channel [NDLR : pour une telle procédure] In this case that established between the prefectures and the consulates “, according to this press release.
The Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lounes Magramane, received this Monday the manager of the French Embassy in Algeria, concerning a list received on March 14 of Algerian nationals “being the subject of decisions to distance French territory”, according to the ministry. Lounes Magramane gave his interlocutor a verbal note containing the official response of the Algerian authorities where Algeria “reaffirms its categorical rejection of threats and vies of intimidation as well as injunctions, ultimatums and any commenced language”, according to the press release. Regarding the rejection of the list established by Paris, Algeria has said it was “animated only by the concern to pay its duty of consular protection with regard to its nationals”.
“On the form”, Algiers estimated that Paris “could not unilaterally and at its sole discretion call into question the traditional channel for the processing of removal files”, which is that connecting each French prefecture to the Algerian consulate in its area. “Basically”, Algeria recalled the existence of a memorandum of understanding dating from 1994, linked to a bilateral agreement signed in 1974, “which remains the main frame of reference in consular matters between the two countries”. It is important, for Algiers, to “ensure compliance with the rights of persons being the subject of distance measures”.
France’s “graduated response”
By announcing the upcoming delivery of a list of Algerians expulsable last Friday, the French Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau had mentioned “profiles of the public order”, leaving prison or with dangerous profiles “.
In the wake of the rejection of Algeria, this Monday, Bruno Retailleau confirmed with BFMTV Then on the social network X that the government would trigger “the graduated response”, believing that Algeria does not respect the agreements made between the two countries. “This list will be a moment of truth: either Algeria agrees to comply with its obligations, law, our agreements signed freely, or we will implement the strategy that we have organized with a graduated response which can go as far as all of our agreements”, had already warned the Minister of the Interior on March 14
Relations between France and Algeria have continued to deteriorate since recognition in July 2024 by Emmanuel Macron of the Rabat autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty for Western Sahara, territory with not defined status according to the UN.