France and Algeria clash over diplomatic passports rule

Algeria on May 19th condemned France for what it called a “flagrant breach” of a 2013 bilateral agreement that exempts holders of diplomatic passport from visa requirements, Middle East Monitor via Anadolu Agency reported.

The Algerian Foreign Ministry issued a statement warning that it would apply reciprocal measures in response.

The backlash follows reports in right-wing French media on May 17th alleging that Paris has enforced new visa restrictions on Algerian officials.

According to Middle East Monitor via Reuters, France’s Foreign Ministry summoned a senior diplomat from Algeria on May 14th to tell him that France was expelling Algerians who carry diplomatic passports without visas.

Algeria expressed “great astonishment” at the developments, accusing French authorities of leaking information to “selectively chosen outlets” rather than communicating through official diplomatic channels.

“It is evident that French decisions are now being communicated through unofficial channels, in a flagrant breach of established diplomatic norms,” the ministry said. According to the 2013 agreement, Algeria and France agreed to waive visa requirements for diplomatic and service passport carriers.

Algeria said it had not received any formal notification from France about the changes, as required under Article 8 of the agreement. Algeria warned that it would enforce reciprocity “strictly and precisely,” depending on the extent of France’s violations.

Tensions between the two countries have simmered in recent years. In 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron drew criticism from Algiers for siding with Morocco over the disputed Western Sahara region.

Last month, Algeria ordered 12 French Embassy employees to leave the country as Algerian-French relations further deteriorated. As reported by AL24 News on April 15^th, the North African country ordered the employees to depart after being declared persona non grata in response to France’s arrest of an Algerian consular official.

A source which appears to be unnamed stated that “this disgraceful act—intended by the French Minister of the Interior as an affront to Algeria—was executed in blatant disregard for the consular status of the employee, with no respect for diplomatic norms and conventions, and in clear violation of the relevant agreements and treaties.”

Anadolu Agency, Middle East Monitor, Reuters, AL24 News