NextFin news, On August 8, 2025, Algeria officially ended the longstanding practice of allowing the French Embassy free use of state-owned real estate in Algiers. This decision was communicated to the French chargé d’affaires through a formal diplomatic note, marking the termination of arrangements under which the French Embassy had benefited from the gratuitous use of multiple government properties for decades.
In addition to ending the free property use, Algeria announced its withdrawal from the 2013 bilateral agreement with France that exempted holders of diplomatic and service passports from visa requirements. This move follows France's earlier suspension of visa exemptions for Algerian officials and diplomats, a decision made by French President Emmanuel Macron amid diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the withdrawal from the visa exemption agreement goes beyond France's temporary suspension and represents a definitive end to the accord. Algeria will now require visas for French diplomatic and service passport holders and reserves the right to apply reciprocal visa criteria to French nationals.
The ministry also highlighted that the 2013 visa exemption agreement was initiated solely by France and that Algeria had never requested such an arrangement. The decision to terminate the agreement was framed as a response to France's unilateral suspension and perceived provocations.
Regarding the real estate issue, Algeria indicated plans to review the favorable lease agreements held by the French Embassy with the Office for the Promotion and Management of Real Estate (OPGI) and invited French officials to Algiers to begin discussions on the matter. Reports indicate that France occupies 61 state-owned properties across Algeria, including 14 hectares used by the French chancery and additional land for the ambassador's residence.
This diplomatic escalation follows a series of events, including France's criticism of Algeria's human rights record and the imprisonment of Algerian-French nationals. Algeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that it does not yield to pressure or blackmail and accused France of failing to uphold commitments under several bilateral agreements.
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