France Submits List of "Dangerous Algerian Nationals" for Expulsion to Algeria
France has intensified its immigration conflict with Algeria by submitting a list of 60 Algerians earmarked for expulsion, as tensions escalate over past diplomatic incidents. While Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau sees this as an opportunity to mend relations, careful maneuvering by President Macron reflects a desire to avoid further strife amid ongoing regional instability.
hassan benyoub 
Paris, March 14, 2025 – France has escalated its immigration standoff with Algeria by transmitting a priority list of approximately 60 Algerian nationals slated for expulsion, a move revealed by BFM TV on Friday. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau described the list as an “initial step” and a “moment of truth” in strained bilateral relations, signaling Paris’s hope that Algiers will seize the opportunity to thaw diplomatic ties.
A Targeted List Amid Heightened Tensions
The document, handed over this afternoon, identifies individuals deemed “dangerous” by the French Interior Ministry—those with confirmed Algerian citizenship flagged for public order violations or ties to extremism, per Retailleau’s statements on BFMTV-RMC and Le Figaro. This follows his earlier pledge on RTL Wednesday to start with a “first list” of dozens, a sharp reduction from the “several hundred” he initially touted in early March. Sources suggest more lists could follow, reflecting a phased approach to a crisis that intensified after Algeria refused to accept a Mulhouse attack perpetrator expelled by France on February 22—an incident that left one dead and deepened a rift sparked by France’s July 2024 recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.
Diplomatic Maneuvering and Macron’s Caution
Retailleau’s push aligns with a “graduated response” strategy, but President Emmanuel Macron, after a Wednesday tête-à-tête with the minister, is treading carefully. An Élysée insider told AFP that while both agree on expelling Algerians under Obligations to Leave French Territory (OQTF), Macron aims to avoid further antagonizing Algiers. Posts on X from March 14 amplify Retailleau’s warning—“It will be a test of truth”—while Prime Minister François Bayrou stressed on BFM TV that France “will ensure commitments are honored.” Yet, Macron’s late February plea to end “press wars” hints at a broader goal: preserving anti-terrorism intelligence ties critical to countering jihadist threats from the Sahel and potential returns from Syria.
Algeria’s Response and Regional Stakes
Algeria’s refusal to accept deportees—including the high-profile January case of influencer Doualemn—has fueled French frustration. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, speaking this week, urged Algiers to act on the list to “initiate a new phase” of relations, balancing cooperation with de-escalation. However, Algeria’s silence persists. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s February call in L’Opinion for dialogue—contingent on Macron’s outreach—met with “calming words” from Paris, though local media decried Retailleau’s “escalation.” Reports of severed consular ties in Marseille, Montpellier, and Nice surfaced on X, yet a French diplomatic source told AFP no official notice has been received.
A Fragile Path Forward
The list offers a temporary reprieve, but experts like Hasni Abidi of Geneva’s CERMAM warn it “doesn’t defuse the crisis’s root causes.” With France eyeing Algeria’s stability—Africa’s largest nation, bordered by volatile neighbors—and the specter of returning jihadists, cooperation remains vital. Posts on X reflect skepticism, with users like @BFMTV noting the list’s transmission as a “priority expulsion” test case. For now, the ball is in Algiers’ court, but only high-level dialogue, not symbolic gestures, may avert a deeper rupture.
