France Arrests Algerian Diplomatic Official Over Paris Kidnapping of Regime Critic
French prosecutors arrested and charged an Algerian consular official with involvement in the kidnapping of an Algerian political opponent living in France, prompting a strong reaction from Algeria, Reuters reported.
On Friday, French authorities indicted three men, including an Algerian consular employee, on suspicion of abducting influencer Amir Boukhors in April 2024. They charged the individuals with abduction, arbitrary detention, and illegal confinement in connection with a terrorist enterprise.
Boukhors, also known as “Amir DZ,” was kidnapped in a Paris suburb and released the following day.
Algiers has accused the influencer – who has more than a million TikTok followers and was granted asylum in France in 2023 – of fraud and terrorism charges and issued nine international arrest warrants against him, according to France 24.
Following Friday’s detentions, the Algerian foreign ministry denounced the move as a violation of diplomatic protocol, adding that the indictment was based on the “far-fetched argument” that the official’s phone had been detected near Boukhors’ residence.
Algerian officials demanded the official’s immediate release while alleging that France is seeking to “torpedo” recent rapprochement efforts between the two countries.
The row comes as relations between France and Algeria have taken a nosedive after Paris moved to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2023.
Algeria – which supports the region’s pro-independence Polisario Front – strongly opposed France’s policy shift and recalled its ambassador in Paris at the time.
Relations further deteriorated after Algiers arrested and jailed French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal on national security charges.
However, tensions eased in recent weeks following a call between Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, in late March.
The two leaders expressed a desire to mend relations after years of disputes rooted in colonial history and competing regional alliances.
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