Six Algerian nationals living in France are under investigation for allegedly promoting violence and hatred against critics of Algeria’s government. These developments have escalated the already tense relations between Paris and Algiers.
French authorities arrested three Algerians earlier this year over their social media activity. On Thursday, they detained a Franco-Algerian TikToker. Two more Franco-Algerian influencers are also under investigation but have not been arrested, officials in Lyon announced on Monday.
The six are accused of using online platforms to incite hatred and violence, targeting those opposing the Algerian government. These arrests have intensified the diplomatic crisis between France and Algeria, which began last year when France backed Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara.
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One of the accused, 59-year-old cleaner Boualem Naman, known as “Doualemn,” was arrested in Montpellier on 5 January. French authorities allege that Naman, who has 138,000 TikTok followers, encouraged violence in a video targeting an anti-government protester in Algeria.
According to media reports, Naman called for physical harm against a man in Algeria but did not explicitly say, “kill him,” as initially claimed. At the prosecutor’s request, interpreters reviewed the video and confirmed the language used.
Naman was deported to Algiers on Thursday, but Algerian authorities denied him entry, arguing that he deserved a trial in France. He was sent back to France later that evening, according to the French Interior Ministry.
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau criticized Algeria’s refusal to admit Naman, accusing Algiers of attempting to “humiliate France.” Algeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded by accusing Paris of waging a “disinformation campaign.”
Naman’s lawyers, Jean-Baptiste Mousset and Marie David-Bellouard, stated that their client is “paying the price” of strained diplomatic relations.
Widening Rift in France-Algeria Relations
Tensions between France and Algeria have been mounting for months, largely due to France’s shift in its stance on Western Sahara. In 2024, President Emmanuel Macron’s administration abandoned its neutral position to back Morocco’s claim over the disputed territory.
This decision angered Algeria, a staunch supporter of the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination. In response, Algeria recalled its ambassador from Paris, expressing discontent with France’s growing ties with Morocco.
Efforts by France to strengthen business and diplomatic relations with Morocco have further strained relations with Algeria. President Macron’s three-day visit to Morocco in October deepened the divide.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, re-elected in September, has repeatedly delayed a state visit to France, initially scheduled for May 2023. Last week, Macron accused Tebboune’s government of “disgracing itself” by imprisoning 75-year-old writer Boualem Sansal, a prominent critic of the Algerian regime.
This escalating diplomatic standoff highlights the fragile relationship between France and Algeria, rooted in historical grievances and competing geopolitical interests.
