Algiers: Algeria on Thursday canceled a 2013 visa waiver agreement with France for diplomatic and service passport holders, escalating tensions with Paris over migration, consular cooperation, and a series of long-standing disputes.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Foreign Ministry stated that the decision came in response to France's unilateral suspension of the agreement earlier this week, emphasizing that France, not Algeria, originally proposed the deal. "From now on, holders of French diplomatic and service passports will be subject to the same visa conditions imposed on their Algerian counterparts," the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry accused the French government of employing 'pressure tactics' instead of engaging in dialogue, alleging that Paris had resorted to threats, ultimatums, and unilateral actions to address bilateral issues. The statement condemned France's use of visa restrictions as leverage to secure deportations of undocumented migrants, describing the policy as 'unacceptable blackmail' that violates basic rights and international obligations.
Algeria further accused France of undermining key bilateral agreements, including the 1968 mobility accord, the 1974 family reunification protocol, and the 1994 readmission agreement, particularly concerning the treatment of Algerian nationals in France. The ministry noted that it had repeatedly rejected the accreditation of certain French diplomatic staff over the past two years, having notified French authorities of its position, which remains unchanged.
While reaffirming its openness to resolving disputes through diplomatic channels, Algeria emphasized it would not 'submit to pressure, regardless of its origin or nature.' The move followed French President Emmanuel Macron's decision on Wednesday to suspend the 2013 visa waiver deal, citing Algeria's alleged lack of cooperation on migration and security matters.
In a letter to Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, Macron claimed that Algerian consulates in France had stopped collaborating with French authorities and highlighted the detention of dual nationals Boualem Sansal and Christophe Gleizes in Algeria. Diplomatic ties between the two countries have sharply deteriorated since April, when they expelled 12 diplomats from each side in a tit-for-tat move and downgraded their missions to the charge d'affaires level.
Tensions were further exacerbated by France's public support for Morocco's autonomy plan in Western Sahara, as well as long-running disagreements over colonial-era accountability, nuclear test reparations, and visa policy.