The standoff between France and Algeria over Obligations to Quit French Territory, or OQTF in short, has intensified already tense diplomatic relations.
Recent incidents showcase how migration policy has become a flashpoint between the two countries.
Mulhouse Attack Brings OQTF Problem Into Sharp Focus
Last Saturday, a deadly knife attack in Mulhouse has thrust the OQTF crisis to the forefront. A 37-year-old Algerian man identified as Brahim A. stabbed one person to death and injured several police officers.
French President Emmanuel Macron quickly labeled the incident as “terrorism.”
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau disclosed that Algeria had refused ten times to take back the suspect: "Algeria has refused ten times to accept someone who was born in Algeria," Retailleau stated on TF1 news.
The attacker had been previously jailed for “apology of terrorism” in 2023 and was on a terror watch list. Despite his OQTF status, he remained in France under house arrest after detention at an administrative retention center from March to June 2024.
Algeria Wields OQTF as Bargaining Chip
For Algeria, refusing to issue travel documents for citizens under OQTF orders has become a powerful tool in its dealings with France. A former Algerian diplomat explained that “Alger has understood very well Paris’s sensitivity on this subject.”
"We know what French politicians fear: not being able to justify to public opinion a terrorist act committed by a national identified for expulsion. This makes them so nervous when it comes to border returns," the former diplomat added.
This pattern repeated in early 2025 when Algeria refused to accept another individual deported from Nice who was under an OQTF for domestic violence charges.
Social Media Influencers Stand at Center of Worsening Ties
The OQTF issue gained additional prominence with the case of Algerian influencer Doualemn. French officials arrested and attempted to deport him in January, but Algeria refused his entry.
In a striking turn, the Administrative Court of Melun later annulled Doualemn’s OQTF and ordered the French state to pay him €1,200 in compensation for legal costs. The court also mandated authorities to reexamine his residency status.
This ruling undermined Interior Minister Retailleau, who has taken a firm stance on immigration. French police have nonetheless continued to target Algerian social media personalities, arresting several in Grenoble, Brest, and Lyon on charges of inciting violence.
France’s OQTF Enforcement Under Scrutiny
Despite the diplomatic wrangling, some OQTF deportations to Algeria do take place, albeit at a trickle.
Broader changes to French immigration law in early 2024 have removed protections for several groups previously shielded from expulsion, including those who arrived in France before age 13.
The case of Moussa Sacko, who arrived in France at age five but was deported to Mali in July 2024, illustrates the shift in enforcement. Rights groups have called such expulsions "emblematic of the illegal practices of the French administration."
Roots of the Current Crisis Run Deep
The latest tensions occur against a backdrop of already damaged ties. Algeria withdrew its ambassador from Paris in July 2024 after France shifted its position on Western Sahara in favor of Morocco.
The detention of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal in Algeria since November 2024 has further worsened relations. Retailleau accused Algeria of keeping the "old and ill" writer in prison "for the wrong reasons."
As the OQTF standoff continues, French officials have called for visa restrictions on Algerian officials and a possible freeze of development aid to push back against what they see as Algerian provocations.
For now, Algiers and Paris remain locked in a bitter game of diplomatic chess, with OQTF refusals standing as Algeria’s most effective opening move.
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