Algerian-French relations entered a new phase of tension on Monday after Algeria rejected Paris’s decision to complicate procedures concerning the diplomatic pouch, a move described by political circles in Algeria as a clear breach of international norms.
The French measure forms part of a broader series of contentious issues between the two countries, ranging from disputes over historical memory and migration policies to visa restrictions and Algerians’ access to the Schengen Area.
Observers stress that, for Algeria, protecting the diplomatic pouch is not merely a technical matter but a question of sovereignty, directly impacting the state’s ability to conduct its foreign affairs safely and independently. Algeria’s firm stance is seen as an effort to draw clear red lines against any interference with privileges guaranteed under international law.
On Monday, Algeria expressed its categorical rejection of the “discriminatory” temporary measure proposed by the French ministry for Europe and foreign affairs, which targets exclusively accredited Algerian personnel accessing designated areas in French airports for the purpose of transporting or receiving the diplomatic pouch.
The official Algerian news agency reported, citing an informed source, that the Directorate-General of Protocol at the Algerian foreign ministry received a verbal note from the French ministry on August 7 regarding the proposed temporary procedure for accredited Algerian personnel accessing airport areas for transporting or receiving the diplomatic pouch.
The French measure stipulates that any Algerian official responsible for the diplomatic pouch must be accompanied at all times by French police officers. It also requires a written request to be submitted to the French ministry for Europe and foreign affairs at least 48 hours before any transport or receipt of the pouch.
The source explained that the measure fundamentally conflicts with France’s obligation to ensure the proper functioning of diplomatic and consular missions on its territory, disrupting operations at Algeria’s embassy and consular offices across France.
They noted that Article 25 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations requires the host state to provide all facilities necessary for the performance of diplomatic functions, while Article 5 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations obliges the host state to allow consular offices to carry out their duties freely.
The source further emphasised that the reported French measure regarding the diplomatic pouch violates France’s obligations under Article 27, paragraph 7 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which explicitly guarantees any diplomatic mission the right to send an accredited member to receive the pouch directly and freely from the aircraft commander.
This right is also enshrined in Article 13, paragraph 7 of the 1974 Algeria-France Consular Convention, which allows a consular office to send a member to receive the pouch directly and freely from the ship or aircraft commander.
The informed source added that, in line with its commitments under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, France normally provides permanent access cards to secure, controlled-access areas at airports for diplomatic and consular missions.
Any measure excluding Algeria’s mission or consular offices from this system constitutes a clear violation of obligations recognised under both the Vienna Convention and the Algeria-France Consular Convention.
The source revealed that the new French procedure targets exclusively Algerian diplomatic personnel, representing discriminatory treatment inconsistent with the principle of non-discrimination toward accredited diplomatic and consular missions, a principle codified in Article 47 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and Article 72 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
The Algerian foreign ministry noted that the reported measure concerns only the Algerian embassy in Paris, disregarding Algerian consular offices elsewhere in France, whose staff are prevented from obtaining permanent access cards to airport areas for transporting or receiving the diplomatic pouch.
For these reasons, the Algerian foreign ministry expressed its categorical rejection of the temporary measure, emphasising that the only solution consistent with France’s international and bilateral obligations is the restoration of permanent access cards for staff of Algeria’s diplomatic mission and consular offices in France.
It added that once these cards are reinstated, Algeria will lift any reciprocal measures previously adopted under the strict application of the principle of reciprocity.