Watan-“Go ahead and do it!” — that was Algeria’s defiant response, delivered via its official news agency, to recent leaks published by the French magazine L’Express, claiming that French authorities are considering freezing the assets and properties of senior Algerian officials. The move is reportedly being considered in response to Algeria’s refusal to repatriate nationals facing deportation orders from France.
In a strongly worded statement, the Algerian Press Service (APS) accused French institutions of managing bilateral relations through coordinated leaks, yet doing so with “amateurism, poor judgment, and a complete lack of strategic foresight.”
The APS confirmed the leaks reveal efforts by France to block access to properties and financial assets owned by high-ranking Algerian officials, describing the alleged retaliation as “unprecedented and politically immature.”
“France has never stooped to such levels in handling its relationship with Algeria,” the statement said, blaming French officials seeking to exploit Algeria for domestic political gain.
France is preparing potential financial sanctions against top Algerian officials owning assets in the country, as diplomatic relations worsen.
Algeria responded emphatically:“To those behind this: Go ahead and carry out what you’re talking about!”
The statement added that France’s threats target a fictional version of Algeria—imagined through terms like “the regime,” “the elite,” or “powerful figures”—insisting that “this imaginary Algeria exists only in the minds of some delusional French policymakers.”
In contrast, the APS stressed that “the real Algeria” has formally requested France’s cooperation on legal matters related to illicitly acquired property. Algeria has filed 51 international legal requests with the French justice system, all of which remain unanswered. It has also requested the extradition of individuals convicted of corruption and public fund embezzlement, to no avail.
The APS concluded by accusing France of complicity in protecting corrupt individuals, stating:“If this is about cleaning Augean stables” (a reference to Greek mythology symbolizing massive corruption and chaos), “then let France begin by cleaning its own—because it desperately needs credibility now more than ever.”
The original L’Express report claimed that France is seriously studying a plan to freeze the assets of 20 senior Algerian officials, as part of potential retaliatory measures in the event of further diplomatic escalation.
A French government source told the magazine that about 801 Algerian elite figures are believed to own properties or have financial interests in France.
French President Emmanuel Macron
According to L’Express, both the French Ministries of Economy and Interior are working on a legal framework to impose financial sanctions targeting these top officials—who reportedly hold high-ranking political, administrative, and security positions in Algeria.
This all unfolds amid a period of sustained diplomatic tension, with French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau recently hinting at individual sanctions against Algerians due to Algeria’s refusal to accept deportees with removal orders (OQTF).