Algeria has returned an Algerian influencer deported by France back to the country, escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
The influencer, known as “Doualemn,” was deported from France for inciting hatred and violence on social media. However, upon landing in Algeria, authorities refused entry and sent him back to France, citing an exceptional 2008 law that excludes nationals deemed a threat.
Doualemn, whose real name is Boualem N., is accused of making violent threats and anti-Semitic remarks on TikTok, where he has 138,000 followers. His deportation follows similar actions against other Algerian influencers for inciting attacks against opposition supporters.
The move has strained Franco-Algerian relations, with French officials criticizing Algeria for “humiliating” France. Calls from French right-wing politicians demand measures, including revisiting the 1968 Franco-Algerian agreement on migration and residency rights.
The diplomatic rift deepens as France supports critics of the Algerian regime, such as writer Boualem Sansal, whose arrest in Algeria in December has drawn condemnation. Algeria, in turn, accuses France of interference and escalating hostilities.
Doualemn remains in a detention center in Île-de-France, awaiting trial in February, while tensions between the two countries continue to simmer.