ALGIERS, Algeria

Algeria has summoned French Ambassador Stephane Romatet on Saturday to protest the arrest of an Algerian consular official and place him in temporary custody.

The arrest stems from a judicial investigation into an alleged kidnapping attempt targeting Amir Boukhors, known as “Amir DZ,” Algerian Foreign Ministry officials said.

A Foreign Ministry statement said Lounas Magramane, the ministry’s secretary-general, met with Romatet on Saturday to convey Algeria’s firm rejection of the French judicial decision, which targeted a diplomat protected by consular immunity.

Authorities arrested the official on a public road without prior diplomatic notification, violating his privileges and established bilateral practices, the ministry stated.

The French case relies solely on the claim that the official’s phone was detected near Boukhors’ residence in Creteil, a Paris suburb, a justification Algeria dismissed as “a lame excuse.” Boukhors, a social media influencer critical of Algerian policies, resides in France.

Algeria labeled the incident “unprecedented and politically motivated,” arguing it undermines recent efforts to mend bilateral ties following a phone call between Presidents Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Emmanuel Macron.

Last week, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced the resumption of cooperation mechanisms with Algeria after months of strained relations, triggered by France’s support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Western Sahara dispute in July 2024.

The Algerian Foreign Ministry condemned the detention as a calculated move, accusing certain French parties of lacking sincerity in normalizing relations.

The ministry statement criticized France for ignoring Algeria’s repeated extradition requests for Boukhors, whom it described as “a known criminal.”

Algeria demanded the diplomat’s “immediate release,” urging respect for his rights under international and bilateral agreements, including proper legal defense conditions.

The ministry warned that the incident “would severely damage Algerian-French relations” and vowed to protect its detained diplomat, promising consequences if unresolved.