French Interior Minister Tries to Bargain With Algerian Authorities

After an undeclared truce by French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, he once again dug into the ashes of the escalating political and diplomatic crisis between the two countries.

The occasion was the release of social media influencer and activist Boualem Nouamane, following the end of his three-month administrative detention.

Following this release, the French Interior Minister found himself facing a defeat in his confrontation with the state he considers his archenemy. Bruno Retailleau has been unable to deport Boualem Nouamane to his native Algeria by any means possible, despite more than six months of administrative and judicial attempts against him.

Therefore, the minister in François Bayrou’s government issued press statements confirming that he had not given up despite his failed efforts to deport Boualem Nouamane. However, the provocative tone he usually employs in the media when discussing Algeria disappeared this time, in what appeared to be an attempt to project a deceptive sense of calm that no longer fooled the Algerian authorities.

Commenting on Boualem Nouamane’s release from administrative detention, Bruno Retailleau told the French private television channel BFM TV: “We will present him (Boualem Nouamane) to the Algerian authorities, as they are responsible,” he claimed, to obtain consular authorisation to deport him to Algeria.

The man appeared desperate to get a response from the Algerian authorities in this regard, stating, “There is an agreement signed between Algeria and France, and based on this agreement, we will see if someone’s identity is known. The country of his origin must receive him.”

On January 9, the French Interior Minister deported Boualem Nouamane to Algeria without obtaining a deportation permit issued by the Algerian consulate in France. This prompted Algerian authorities to return him on the same day’s flight. This drastic decision drove Retailleau to the brink of madness, accusing the Algerian authorities of “insulting” France, as he claimed.

Although Bruno Retailleau initially refused to comment on the decision to release influencer Boualem Nouamane, his provocative and hostile stances toward the Algerian authorities prevented him from exerting self-control. For several weeks, he has refrained from mentioning Algeria, despite having spoken about it frequently morning and night. This has drawn sharp criticism from many French politicians, who have accused him of “Algeria obsession.”

Two days ago, Bruno Retailleau was asked about the Boualem Nouamane case on CNews, a channel known for its far-right stance. He responded by saying he preferred to “stay silent.” However, he quickly corrected himself, confirming that he “will regain his freedom to discuss this issue (the case of the influencer Boualem)” after the trial of Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who is serving a five-year prison sentence in Algeria for his involvement in harming Algeria’s territorial integrity.

The trial of Boualem Sansal is expected to begin in an appeal session less than a week from now (June 24) before the Algiers Judicial Council. This means that the French Interior Minister is counting on an Algerian judicial decision that satisfies the French authorities; otherwise, he will reconsider the case of “influencer Boualem,” in what appears to be a cheap bargain by the French minister.

It is clear from Retailleau’s statement that he is linking the case of Boualem Nouamane, who spent more than half a century of his life on French soil, 15 of which were legal, to another legally unrelated case: the case of Boualem Sansal, who was implicated in criminal offences that could have been punished more severely, namely, harming Algeria’s territorial integrity.