France 2 Exposes Alleged Algerian Infiltration Network Targeting Dissidents in France (video)

Paris, March 3, 2025 – A France 2 investigation has uncovered what it claims is a clandestine Algerian network operating on French soil, involving secret services, influencers, dual nationals, and consulates, aimed at silencing critics of the Algerian regime and countering perceived threats from France. The report, aired on "L’Œil du 20h" on March 4, 2025, has sparked outrage and shed light on Algeria’s alleged tactics to intimidate opponents, particularly Kabyle independence activists from the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylia (MAK).

Unveiling Algeria’s Alleged Tactics

????#FLASH| France 2 révèle les ingérences du réseau d’infiltration algérien sur le sol français : services secrets algériens, influenceurs, binationaux, consulats; pour traquer les détracteurs de l'Algérie et « défendre l'Algérie face à la France ». pic.twitter.com/Im5zVI1NHN — Morocco Intelligence (@MoroccoIntel) March 3, 2025

The France 2 probe alleges that Algerian intelligence orchestrates a multi-pronged strategy to suppress dissent among its diaspora in France. Posts on X and statements from Kabyle leader Ferhat Mehenni, founder of MAK, align with the report, accusing Algeria of using fabricated legal cases to pressure activists. The tactic, as described, involves Algerian courts issuing politically motivated sentences via “telephone orders,” then offering to drop these “empty” charges if the accused surrender their activism—often with promises of amnesty.

Those who comply, the investigation suggests, face social stigma within their communities, while “true resistors” who refuse to relent are celebrated for their defiance. “When your conscience is clear, these prefabricated dossiers from Algerian services are worthless,” Mehenni stated on X, praising activists who stand firm.

Targeting the Kabyle Movement

The report zeroes in on Algeria’s focus on MAK, a group advocating Kabyle autonomy, which Algiers labels a terrorist organization. France 2 claims to have caught Algerian Interior Ministry officials on tape, collaborating with MAK members in a sting operation. These officials allegedly contact dissidents in France, pressuring them to abandon their cause and snitch on fellow activists in exchange for dropped charges back home. The investigation asserts this is part of a broader effort to “defend Algeria against France” and neutralize opposition from Paris.

The MAK, once a marginal group, has gained traction among Kabyles amid Algeria’s crackdown on the Hirak protest movement since 2021, a shift some attribute to the regime’s own repressive policies.

A Broader Network of Influence?

Beyond direct intimidation, France 2 points to a wider web involving Algerian consulates, influencers, and dual nationals tasked with tracking detractors. This echoes earlier tensions, like the arrests of Algerian influencers in France in January 2025 for inciting violence online, allegedly at the behest of Algiers. The report suggests consulates play a role in monitoring and pressuring the diaspora, a claim that has fueled calls on X to reduce their presence in France.

The investigation’s timing—amid a diplomatic spat over migration accords and the detention of writer Boualem Sansal—adds weight to accusations of Algerian overreach, though concrete evidence of consular involvement remains anecdotal per available sources.

Reactions and Implications

The exposé has ignited debate. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, already vocal about Algeria’s refusal to repatriate nationals, may seize on this to bolster his push for tougher measures. Posts on X laud the “unmasking” of Algeria’s “ridiculous” tactics, while others express admiration for activists resisting coercion. The report could strain France-Algeria ties further, especially as Paris navigates its own security concerns and regional alliances.

For now, the investigation’s claims await official corroboration, but they spotlight a contentious clash of sovereignty and diaspora politics.