The tit-for-tat move comes after the North African country accused Paris of disgraceful behavior

France has expelled 12 Algerian diplomats and recalled its ambassador, Stephane Romatet, from Algiers, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced on Tuesday.

In a statement published the same day, the French presidency accused the Algerian government of being responsible for "a brutal degradation of our bilateral relations."

Earlier this week, Barrot announced that the North African country had ordered 12 French Embassy officials to leave the country within 48 hours. He claimed Algeria's actions were "unjustified," adding "dialogue, always, but not one-way."

The Algerian Foreign Ministry confirmed its decision to designate French embassy staff as "undesirable persons," accusing the French Interior Ministry of "defamation" against an Algerian consular staff member.

The consular official in question was among three Algerian nationals arrested in France on charges related to the April 2024 kidnapping of Algerian influencer Amir Boukhors, also known as Amir DZ.

Algeria summoned French Ambassador Stephane Romatet on Saturday to protest the arrest of the consular official without diplomatic notification, demanding his release and accusing Paris of "disgraceful" behavior.

The incident adds to ongoing tensions despite efforts to reset ties, including a recent phone call between French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and a visit by Barrot to Algeria this month. Macron also called on Tebboune to show "mercy and humanity" toward jailed French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who was sentenced to five years for "attacking territorial integrity."

Relations have been strained by past disputes, including France's backing of Morocco's Western Sahara autonomy plan, a visa incident involving the wife of Algeria's ambassador to Mali, and accusations of colonial-era genocide.

(RT.com)