Diplomatic Tensions Escalate Between France and Algeria Over Espionage Allegations

Algeria accuses French intelligence of plotting to destabilize its government, following France's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.

• Algeria has accused France's DGSE intelligence agency of attempting to recruit former jihadists to destabilize its government, claims that France has dismissed as baseless.
• The accusations stem from a documentary aired on Algerian state media, featuring a purported ex-jihadist who claims to have been approached by French intelligence in 2023.
• Algeria summoned the French ambassador on December 12 to protest what it perceives as hostile actions and interference in its sovereignty.
• This diplomatic flare-up follows France's recognition in July 2024 of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara, a move Algeria strongly opposes due to its support for the Polisario Front independence movement.
• The strained relations have been further exacerbated by Algeria's recent targeting of French-Algerian writers and intellectuals, including arrests and public denouncements.

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