14.04.2025 12:20
Tensions between France and African countries continue to escalate. Former French colonies in Africa have demanded that French officials leave their countries, citing claims of "colonial activities." Algeria has also joined the ranks of countries expelling French officials. Algeria has requested that 12 French officials leave the country within 48 hours.
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that Algeria has requested 12 French consulate employees to leave the country within 48 hours, amid increasing tensions in relations due to mutual detentions in recent years.
THEY DESCRIBED IT AS "UNFAIR" Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot described Algeria's request for the 12 French consulate employees to leave the country within 48 hours as "unfair." Barrot called on Algeria to reverse this decision, which he noted was taken in response to the detention of three Algerians in France for "serious crimes committed on French soil." He stated that they are in a period of trying to re-establish dialogue with Algeria, saying, "I ask the Algerian authorities to abandon this expulsion measure, which is unrelated to the ongoing legal proceedings concerning the detainees."
"ABANDON IT, OR WE WILL RESPOND" Barrot emphasized that the Paris government does not want to develop "bad relations" with Algeria, stating, "I ask the Algerian authorities to abandon these expulsion measures. If this attitude towards our officials continues, we will have no choice but to respond immediately."
FORMER COLONIES RAISE THE FLAG OF REBELLION Diplomatic and political crises between France and its former colonies have increased in recent years. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which are among the African countries from which France continues to collect colonial taxes, have also expelled French diplomats. African countries have claimed that French officials interfere in their internal affairs, demanding not only the departure of diplomats but also of French military forces from their territories. The junta government that came to power in Burkina Faso in September 2022 distanced the country from France, which maintained colonial rule until 1960. The French ambassador, who was recalled after the coup, has not yet returned to Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou. In April 2024, Burkina Faso expelled three French diplomats for allegedly conducting "destructive activities" in the country.
France used a picture of Muslims it massacred in Morocco in 1912 as a postage stamp Relations between Mali, a landlocked country in West Africa and one of the poorest in the world, and France have also deteriorated since the military took control in August 2020. The then French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian stated that the Malian junta was "illegitimate" and "out of control."
The military leaders of Mali decided to expel the French ambassador due to the "shameless" comments made by the French Foreign Minister regarding the transitional government.
DIPLOMATIC CRISIS BETWEEN NIGER AND FRANCE The former French colony Niger, which underwent a change of power, also expelled the French ambassador in 2023. The military administration in Niger announced that it had given the French ambassador to Niamey, Sylvain Itte, 48 hours to leave the country, and that his immunity would be lifted for expulsion if he did not leave.
France stated that "the junta does not have the authority to demand the departure of the French ambassador." Ambassador Itte did not leave the country despite the expiration of the given deadline, and French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated on August 28 that they would not withdraw Itte despite the pressures.
About a month after the military administration that came to power in Niger on July 26 gave Ambassador Itte 48 hours to leave the country on August 25, the ambassador left the country.
Finally, in 2024, Chad became another country that requested France to withdraw its forces after Paris had to pull out its military from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger following military coups.