France accuses Algeria of refusing deported influencer to ‘humiliate’ Paris

In recent days, French police have detained four Algerian nationals, also described as influencers, on charges of posting videos that incite violence. Arrests occurred in cities across France, including Grenoble, Brest, and Lyon, where a female TikTok influencer was taken into custody for alleged death threats against opponents of the Algerian government.

Retailleau condemned the actions of these individuals, emphasizing that “social networks are not a lawless zone” and vowing to crack down on hate speech, including antisemitism and incitement to violence.

The deportation refusal is the latest in a series of disputes that are deepening the rift between the two nations. Retailleau expressed alarm at what he described as “an extremely worrying threshold” in bilateral relations, as per AP, accusing Algeria of undermining France’s efforts to maintain order and combat extremism.

Historical context

The incident has further strained the already fragile relations between France and Algeria, which gained independence from French colonial rule in 1962 after a bloody war. Relations soured last year when France shifted its stance on the disputed Western Sahara region, angering Algeria and prompting the withdrawal of its ambassador from Paris.

Retailleau also criticized Algeria for detaining French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal since November. A vocal critic of the Algerian government, Sansal’s imprisonment has drawn backlash from France, with Retailleau describing his detention as unjust and concerning given his age and health condition.

(With inputs from AP)