France’s Diplomatic Breach Sparks Algerian Retaliation: Reciprocity Applied Immediately

France’s Diplomatic Breach Sparks Algerian Retaliation: Reciprocity Applied Immediately

By Dr. Hana Saada

In an unprecedented escalation of tensions between Algiers and Paris, Algeria has announced the immediate and strict application of the principle of reciprocity following a flagrant French obstruction that jeopardized the proper functioning of the Algerian diplomatic mission in France.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its “deep astonishment” after learning of a measure deliberately designed to prevent accredited Algerian staff at its embassy in Paris from accessing restricted airport zones in order to collect diplomatic pouches—an essential prerogative enshrined in international law.

Following this provocative restriction, the chargé d’affaires of the French Embassy in Algiers was urgently summoned to the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for clarifications. Simultaneously, the Algerian chargé d’affaires in Paris engaged directly with the relevant departments of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

These démarches revealed an alarming reality: the measure was unilaterally imposed by the French Ministry of the Interior, without the knowledge of the Quai d’Orsay, in complete opacity and in blatant violation of the most fundamental diplomatic norms. No official notification was issued to Algeria, a practice that starkly contradicts the principles of transparency and mutual respect governing state-to-state relations.

This act constitutes not only a serious disruption to the functioning of Algeria’s diplomatic mission but also a clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations—specifically paragraph seven of Article 27, which explicitly guarantees the right of any diplomatic mission to “send one of its members to take delivery of the diplomatic bag directly and freely from the captain of the aircraft.”

Faced with this grave affront, Algeria has decided to enforce the principle of reciprocity with immediate effect. Furthermore, Algiers reserves the right to pursue every available legal avenue, including bringing the matter before the United Nations, to defend its rights and ensure the full protection of its diplomatic personnel in France.