A spokesman for the French foreign ministry said on Thursday that France will keep working to improve relations with Algeria despite Algiers accusing Paris on Wednesday of planning the escape of an activist it wants to arrest.
According to Algerian and French media, Amira Bouraoui, a rights activist who was imprisoned during the 2019 mass protests in Algeria and released from prison in 2020, allegedly crossed into Tunisia illegally after evading Algerian judicial surveillance. As a result, Algeria recalled its ambassador to Paris on Wednesday.
Francois Delmas, the deputy spokesman for the French foreign ministry, told reporters that Bouraoui, a citizen of France and Tunisia, has access to consular protection just like any French citizens, but he declined to comment on the specific accusations.
After months of improving relations, Algiers’ response might start a fresh conflict between the nations. Last year, Algeria was visited by French President Emmanuel Macron, who gave President Abdelmadjid Tebboune a warm embrace during a tour that appeared to end years of tense relations.
Said Chengriha, the senior military commander of Algeria, recently spent three days in Paris meeting with Macron and talking about military matters, especially the Sahel region of Africa. Later this year, Tebboune was scheduled to travel to Paris.
“The recall of the ambassador is an Algerian decision, but for us we intend to continue to work to deepen our bilateral relations with a renewed partnership,” Delmas said.
Bouraoui was arrested in Tunisia this week and faced an extradition hearing, but the judge ordered her to be freed and she was allowed to leave the country on Monday.
French media has reported that her release and flight to France resulted from French diplomatic pressure on Tunisia.
