Algeria’s inclusion alongside Iran and Russia in cases related to what French authorities describe as “state terrorism” has triggered an official backlash in Algiers, amid growing political and media tensions between the two countries following remarks by France’s national anti-terrorism prosecutor.
According to international reports, Algeria reacted on Sunday through an authorised source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who expressed the country’s strong disapproval of what were described as unfounded accusations.
The same source said the statements made by the French judicial official amounted to a gratuitous attack against Algeria, arguing that they came within the context of what was described as a troubled domestic climate in France.
Algerian officials further stated that referring to Algeria in connection with “state terrorism” cases had been done in a reckless and irresponsible manner, and suggested that such claims were part of an attempt to portray Algeria as a scapegoat for France’s internal challenges.
According to the diplomatic source, the remarks should be viewed within a broader political and media environment in France that, from Algeria’s perspective, increasingly attributes complex domestic issues to external actors.
The response came days after comments by France’s national anti-terrorism prosecutor, Olivier Christen, who said on Friday (March 3) that eight investigations linked to what he described as “state terrorism” were currently underway.
The French official indicated that three of these cases were related to Iran, while five others were primarily linked to Russia and Algeria, without providing detailed clarification regarding Algeria’s alleged involvement.
He explained that these investigations reflected an evolving threat landscape involving foreign interference, organised crime networks, and the recruitment of operatives, including minors, through social media platforms.
He also noted that some of the operations under investigation appeared to focus on targeting political opponents of those states on French territory, rather than carrying out indiscriminate attacks against the wider population.
The prosecutor further stated that one of the cases involved a foiled plot targeting the Paris headquarters of a major American bank, adding that four individuals, including three minors, had been charged after allegedly being recruited in exchange for money.
He added that investigations in some cases had uncovered links leading to foreign actors, pointing specifically to Iran, while not providing similar details regarding cases associated with Russia or Algeria.
Algeria’s mention in this context appears to have been sufficient to trigger a strong diplomatic reaction, particularly as tensions between Algiers and Paris have intensified in recent months.
This strain in relations has been fuelled in part by French accusations suggesting possible attempts to target Algerian dissidents on French soil.
More broadly, the developments come against a backdrop of historically complex ties between the two countries, shaped by political and historical factors as well as ongoing disagreements over key regional issues.
Among the most sensitive of these is Algeria’s criticism of France’s position on the Western Sahara, particularly following French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement in July 2024, recognising Morocco’s sovereignty over the region and supporting the autonomy initiative as a basis for resolving the dispute.
