Algiers condemns France's illegal exfiltration of Amira Bouraoui

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Algiers condemns in the strongest terms the violation of Algerian national sovereignty, by diplomatic, consular, and security personnel of the French state, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Algerian national community abroad said Wednesday in a statement sent to the French Embassy.

The French personnel reportedly participated in the secret and illegal exfiltration of Algerian nationals, and their presence on Algerian soil is necessary, as per the Algerian judiciary.

According to a note issued by the Algerian Press Service, Algeria "firmly protested against the clandestine and illegal exfiltration of an Algerian citizen" who fled on Monday to France via Tunisia.

These steps come against the backdrop of the case of activist and journalist Amira Bouraoui, who left Tunisia for France on Monday evening and is wanted by the Algerian judiciary.

Bouraoui fled Algeria while a ban to leave the country was still enforced on her. She was arrested in Tunisia as she was attempting to board a flight to France.

A judge released her on Monday but she was shortly thereafter taken away by police before obtaining protection from the French consulate in Tunis.

Prior to the Algerian ambassador to France, Said Moussi, being recalled by the presidency on Wednesday, the Algerian Foreign Ministry said that it had sent an official note to the French embassy underlining "the firm condemnation by Algeria of the violation of national sovereignty by diplomatic, consular and security personnel of the French State".  

It further said that the French consulate in Tunisia "engaged in a clandestine and illegal operation to exfiltrate an Algerian national".  

The move had caused "great damage" to Algerian-French relations, the note further stated.