In a sharp escalation of diplomatic tensions, Algeria has ordered 12 staff members of the French embassy to leave the country within 48 hours. The abrupt expulsion comes in direct response to a French judicial decision to indict three Algerians, including a consular official, over their alleged roles in the high-profile abduction of Algerian influencer Amir Boukhors—widely known as Amir DZ—in Paris last year.
Boukhors, a fierce critic of the Algerian regime with a substantial TikTok following, was kidnapped in the French capital in April 2024 and released the following day. His abduction stirred international controversy, with mounting speculation over the involvement of foreign operatives. French prosecutors now allege that the suspects, including the Algerian consular official, orchestrated the act in a covert effort to silence the influencer.
The Algerian government has condemned the indictments as politically motivated, framing them as an infringement on its national sovereignty and diplomatic immunity. In a strongly worded statement, Algiers accused France of weaponizing its judiciary and undermining bilateral relations. “This measure violates the Vienna Convention and reflects a troubling politicization of legal mechanisms,” a senior Algerian official stated.
French authorities have yet to respond officially to the expulsions, though sources within the French foreign ministry describe the move as “regrettable and counterproductive.” Relations between the two countries have been fraught in recent years, marked by disputes over colonial legacies, immigration policies, and security cooperation. The Amir DZ case has now become the latest flashpoint threatening to unravel already fragile diplomatic ties.
Meanwhile, Boukhors remains in France, where he continues to speak out against what he describes as “systemic repression” in Algeria. The Algerian government is seeking his extradition to face charges of fraud and terrorism—accusations his supporters call politically driven. As tensions mount, the fate of the outspoken influencer and the broader implications for Franco-Algerian relations remain uncertain.
