France plays down Algeria crisis over activist’s ‘escape’
The diplomatic crisis developing between Algeria and France – and in turn between Tunisia and Algeria – over an Algerian activist’s departure from her country, reported by Maghrebi on February 9th is deepening, despite moves by France to calm tensions.
France will continue efforts to strengthen ties with Algeria despite Algiers accusing Paris of orchestrating the escape of an activist it wants to arrest, a French foreign ministry spokesman said on the same day, Reuters reports.
Algeria recalled its ambassador to Paris the day before after Amira Bouraoui (below), a rights activist detained during the 2019 mass protests in Algeria and freed from prison in 2020, had allegedly crossed into Tunisia illegally after evading Algerian judicial surveillance, according to Algerian and French media.
Speaking to reporters, French deputy foreign ministry spokesman Francois Delmas declined to comment on the specific allegations but said that Bouraoui, a Franco-Tunisian national, benefited from consular protection like all French nationals.
Algiers’ reaction could trigger a new crisis between the countries after months of increasingly warm relations. French President Emmanuel Macron visited Algeria last year, warmly embracing President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on a trip that seemed to turn a page on years of difficult ties.
Algeria’s powerful military chief, Said Chengriha, recently spent three days in Paris to discuss military issues including Africa’s Sahel region and met Macron. Tebboune was due to visit Paris later this year.
READ Lavrov’s support to Algeria over Western Sahara signals Russia deals might be off
“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 earlier arrested in Tunisia and faced an extradition hearing, but the judge ordered her to be freed and she was allowed to leave the country.
French media has reported that her release and flight to France resulted from French diplomatic pressure on Tunisia.
Reuters
