Algeria Stops Immigration Cooperation with France over Bouraoui Case

Algerian President with the French Minister of Interior and Prime Minister on Oct. 18, 2022 (The Algerian Presidency)
Algerian President with the French Minister of Interior and Prime Minister on Oct. 18, 2022 (The Algerian Presidency)
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Algeria Stops Immigration Cooperation with France over Bouraoui Case

Algerian President with the French Minister of Interior and Prime Minister on Oct. 18, 2022 (The Algerian Presidency)
Algerian President with the French Minister of Interior and Prime Minister on Oct. 18, 2022 (The Algerian Presidency)

The Algerian government did not react to complaints in France regarding a decision to stop the issuance of consular permits, which allow the deportation of irregular immigrants.

Observers noted that the visa crisis between the two countries would resurface, after a few weeks of a brief breakthrough that followed President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Algeria at the end of August.

The Algerian authorities did not respond to statements made by the head of Les Républicans party, Eric Ciotti, before Parliament on Tuesday, saying that Algeria had stopped issuing consular permits for the French authorities.

This came two months after the end of a sharp dispute that lasted a year and a half, over a decision by Paris to reduce Algeria’s share of visas, under the pretext that its consulates in France refuse to grant administrative approvals, which are required by the Ministry of the Interior to expel thousands of irregular Algerian immigrants residing on French soil.

Algeria had protested the “exaggerated figures” by Paris regarding the number of its clandestine immigrants.

According to Ciotti, France cannot expel more Algerians who reside illegally on its territory, on the basis that Algeria stopped the procedures for issuing consular permits. The deputy called on the Minister of the Interior, Gerald Darmanin, to “stop the visa procedures granted to Algerians,” which were resumed following the latter’s visit to Algeria on Dec.18.

Algerian political sources confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that Algeria’s reversal of its decision to issue consular permits was due “the case of the Franco-Algerian opposition activist Amira Bouraoui.”

On Feb. 8, Algeria summoned its ambassador to Paris, Said Moussa, for “consultations,” and accused French intelligence of “evacuating” the opposition activist and doctor from Tunisia, while she was under a travel ban in her country.

The woman, who also holds French citizenship, was prosecuted for “offending Islam” and insulting the president.

According to the same political sources, “stopping the issuance of consular permits is a form of Algeria’s response to what it considers France’s penetration of its soil to evacuate Bouraoui.”

Algerian media had reported that a French intelligence colonel “orchestrated the operation,” explaining that he was waiting for the opposition activist when she arrived at the airport in Lyon, France, coming from Tunisia, which the doctor strongly denied.



Suspected US Airstrikes in Yemen Kill at Least 4 People Near Hodeidah

A man holds a rifle as protesters, mainly Houthi supporters, rally to mark the annual al-Quds Day (Jerusalem Day) on the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in Sanaa, Yemen March 28, 2025. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
A man holds a rifle as protesters, mainly Houthi supporters, rally to mark the annual al-Quds Day (Jerusalem Day) on the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in Sanaa, Yemen March 28, 2025. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
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Suspected US Airstrikes in Yemen Kill at Least 4 People Near Hodeidah

A man holds a rifle as protesters, mainly Houthi supporters, rally to mark the annual al-Quds Day (Jerusalem Day) on the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in Sanaa, Yemen March 28, 2025. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
A man holds a rifle as protesters, mainly Houthi supporters, rally to mark the annual al-Quds Day (Jerusalem Day) on the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in Sanaa, Yemen March 28, 2025. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah

Suspected US airstrikes battered Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into Wednesday, with the militias saying that one strike killed at least four people near the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah.

The intense campaign of airstrikes in Yemen under US President Donald Trump, targeting the militias over their attacks on shipping in Mideast waters stemming from the Israel-Hamas war, has killed at least 65 people, according to casualty figures released by the Houthis.

The campaign appears to show no signs of stopping as the Trump administration again linked their airstrikes on the Iranian-backed Houthis to an effort to pressure Iran over its rapidly advancing nuclear program. While so far giving no specifics about the campaign and its targets, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt put the overall number of strikes on Tuesday at more than 200.

“Iran is incredibly weakened as a result of these attacks, and we have seen they have taken out Houthi leaders,” Leavitt said. “They’ve taken out critical members who were launching strikes on naval ships and on commercial vessels and this operation will not stop until the freedom of navigation in this region is restored.”

Overnight, a likely US airstrike targeted what the Houthis described as a “water project” in Hodeidah governorate's Mansuriyah District, killing four people and wounding others. Other strikes into Wednesday targeted Hajjah, Saada and Sanaa governorates, the militias said.