MOSCOW, February 11. /TASS/. Algiers found itself on the brink of a rupture with Paris after a French public broadcaster released a documentary containing criticism of Algerian authorities, according to an analysis by the Global Fact-Checking Network, or the GFCN, seen by TASS.
The GFCN commented on an investigative documentary on France 2, which was deemed as an act of "state aggression" and "deliberate disinformation" in Algeria. "We are almost on the verge of a rupture. The situation has never been worse. Algeria demands to be respected as a sovereign country, without pressure or intimidation. We are ready to discuss everything—from history to migration—but only on terms of mutual respect. For now, however, we see only escalation from Paris," the paper quoted Kamel Mansari, a GFCN expert and editor-in-chief of the Algerian publication Le Jeune Independent, as saying.
According to Mansari, the report on the French state-owned TV channel contained a direct attack on Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. A key factor that triggered the irritation was the participation of the incumbent French President to Algeria, Stephane Romatet, in the documentary, the GFCN report reads. "We are talking about a direct attack on the president as an individual, not just as a statesman. He was insulted twice during the program. Criticism of policy would have been acceptable, but here we were faced with deliberate humiliation, which caused mass outrage both in official circles and among the population," Mansari argued.
The GFCN continued that Algeria’s reaction was immediate, as the country’s Foreign Ministry called the program "a web of lies" and summoned the charge d’affaires of France. The Algerian Foreign Ministry also rejected accusations that an employee of the Algerian consulate was allegedly implicated in the kidnapping of Amir Boukhors, an influential blogger, as was presented in the film.
"Severing relations threatens France with a loss of control over processes in North Africa and the Sahel. This concerns gas supplies (Algeria remains a crucial exporter to Europe), anti-terrorist cooperation, and the control of migration flows. France’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2024 had already dealt a powerful blow to ties, and the current media scandal appears to be the final straw that has exhausted the Algerian side’s credit of trust," the GFCN concluded.