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France Suspends Visa Exemptions for Algerian Diplomats in Diplomatic Dispute

The suspension follows Algeria's rejection of France's request to expel 60 nationals deemed dangerous, escalating tensions between the two nations.

  • French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau announced the suspension of the 2007 visa exemption agreements for Algerian diplomatic passport holders as part of a 'graduated response.'
  • Algeria rejected France's request to expel 60 Algerian nationals, citing adherence to bilateral agreements from 1974 and 1994.
  • The diplomatic standoff is compounded by broader tensions, including France's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and Algeria's detention of writer Boualem Sansal.
  • The French government is considering additional measures, such as reducing visas for Algerian workers and revisiting the 1968 accords that grant Algerians special privileges in France.
  • Retailleau has framed the expulsion issue as a national security concern, referencing a recent terrorist attack in Mulhouse involving an Algerian national who was not repatriated.
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