Algeria Summons French Diplomat Over Escalating Visa Crisis

Algeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the chargé d’affaires of the French Embassy in Algiers on Wednesday following France’s announcement of reduced visas for Algerian nationals, calling the move “unacceptable” and accusing Paris of violating diplomatic norms.

Algeria reacted strongly after the French Embassy issued a statement regarding the accreditation of its diplomatic and consular agents. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the communiqué breached the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations by addressing the Algerian public directly and blaming Algiers for the visa restrictions.

According to Algerian officials, the non-accreditation of French diplomats came only after France refused, for over two years, to accredit Algerian heads of mission and consular staff in France. Currently, three consuls general, six consuls, and 46 Algerian officials remain without accreditation, preventing them from assuming their posts.

The ministry accused Paris of deliberately creating this situation, which it says severely harms Algerian nationals in France by limiting access to consular services and weakening protection rights.

Algeria further denounced what it described as “visa blackmail” by France, claiming the French government is using visas as leverage in a power struggle. This follows Algeria’s decision last year to end the 2013 agreement on reciprocal visa exemptions for diplomatic and service passport holders. Officials now warn that Paris has extended its pressure tactics to ordinary passports.

The diplomatic rift over visas marks a new escalation in strained Algerian-French relations, with both countries accusing each other of breaching reciprocity and undermining citizens’ rights.