France’s Foreign Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, issued a warning on Friday, threatening to “retaliate” if Algeria continues to escalate tensions over recent arrests of Algerian social media influencers accused of inciting violence.
In the past few days, French authorities have detained four influencers supportive of Algeria’s government for videos allegedly promoting violent acts in France. Meanwhile, Algeria has detained French-Algerian novelist Boualem Sansal on national security charges. Sansal, a prominent figure in francophone literature, was arrested in November at Algiers airport.
Barrot, speaking to LCI television, mentioned potential retaliatory measures, including restrictions on visas and cuts to development aid, should Algeria persist in raising tensions.
Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau accused Algeria of seeking to “humiliate France” during remarks in Nantes, calling the situation “unacceptable.”
Retailleau criticized Algeria for detaining Sansal, saying, “Algeria is currently holding a great writer—Boualem Sansal—who is not only Algerian but also French. Can a great country, a great people allow itself to detain an elderly, sick man for the wrong reasons?”
Turning to the influencers, he warned against tolerating those “who spread hatred and anti-Semitism” online, describing the situation with Algeria as reaching a “worrying threshold.” “We must now consider all the means we have at our disposal regarding Algeria while keeping our cool,” he added.
Among the arrested influencers is “Doualemn,” a 59-year-old detained in Montpellier after posting a controversial TikTok video. Deported to Algeria on Thursday, he was returned to France the same evening after Algeria refused him entry
Another influencer, Sofia Benlemmane, was arrested in Lyon. With over 300,000 followers, she faces accusations of spreading hate messages, threats, and insults against France.
Youcef A., 25, known as “Zazou Youssef” on TikTok, was detained earlier this month in Brest and faces trial in February on charges of justifying terrorism, carrying a potential seven-year prison sentence.
Imad Tintin, 31, is also in custody for a video calling for violence on French soil and will face trial in March. Two other influencers, “Abdesslam Bazooka” and “Laksas06,” are under investigation.
The arrests come amid strained relations between France and Algeria, exacerbated by France’s renewed support for Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara. The disputed territory, a former Spanish colony, is largely controlled by Morocco but is also claimed by Algeria-backed Sahrawi separatists.
On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron accused Algeria of “dishonoring itself” by keeping Sansal imprisoned, prompting Algeria to condemn the remarks as “unacceptable interference.”
Algeria won independence from France in 1962 after a brutal seven-year war, and historical grievances continued to shape the relationship between the two nations.
