By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Algeria Stops Visa-Free Entry for French Diplomats
Algeria has officially ended a long-standing agreement with France that allowed holders of diplomatic and service passports to enter the country without a visa.
The Foreign Ministry announced on Monday that the decision took effect after it was published in the Official Gazette. The French Embassy in Algiers had already been informed of the change earlier in August, making the new requirement binding on all French officials.
The ministry explained that from now on, French nationals with diplomatic passports must apply for visas like any other travellers. This marks the end of a system that had been in place since 2007 and later expanded in 2013 to include service passports.
Tensions between the two countries have grown steadily in recent months. The immediate trigger came after French President Emmanuel Macron urged a tougher stance towards Algeria and suspended the 2013 deal.
In response, Algerian authorities described the arrangement as something France had repeatedly pushed for, and said its suspension gave them the opportunity to revoke it fully and without hesitation.
Diplomatic relations have already been downgraded. In July, both governments reduced their representation in each other’s capitals to chargé d’affaires level, signalling strained trust and communication.
The cancellation of visa-free entry is now seen as another sign of the worsening relationship between Algiers and Paris, with observers warning it could complicate wider cooperation between the two countries.
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