Algeria's diplomatic rows intensify with France and Tunisia over Western Sahara and security remarks

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s comments have sparked a diplomatic crisis with France after Paris voiced support for Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. The dispute led Algeria to recall its ambassador from Paris, arrest French‑Algerian writer Boualem Sunsal, detain Algerian consular staff in France and raise concerns over the treatment of Algerians seeking visas. The tension revives a deep‑seated rift that first flared in the summer of 2024 when France backed a Moroccan autonomy plan for the Sahara.

Separately, former Tunisian ministers and senior officials issued a sharply worded statement condemning Tebboune’s claim that Tunisia’s security is linked to Algeria’s. The Tunisian declaration emphasized that the country is a “free, independent state” whose defense is solely the responsibility of its own institutions, rejecting any notion of external protection or interference. The officials warned that mutual security cooperation should be based on equal partnership and respect for sovereignty.

Both episodes highlight Algeria’s increasingly confrontational stance in regional affairs, prompting heightened diplomatic friction with neighboring states.