فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Increasing Algerian Intelligence Activities in France
In recent years, Paris has witnessed a notable escalation in the activity of Algerian intelligence agencies, raising concerns among French security services and bringing back to the forefront a thorny issue long characterized by caution and secrecy. The activities of Algerian “barbouzes” (slang for secret agents) extend beyond mere information gathering, encompassing influence operations within the Algerian community, espionage against dissidents, and even intimidation and coercion managed through semi-official channels on French soil.
Unofficial Influence Networks Managed from the Embassy and Consulates:
High-ranking French security sources confirm that the Algerian Embassy in Paris and a number of its consulates serve as undeclared operational centers for the Algerian intelligence service (DGSI). Diplomats with intelligence backgrounds are reportedly employed to oversee the monitoring of the Algerian community, particularly political opponents and Amazigh activists.
It has been observed that a number of members of the Algerian community, especially those associated with opposition movements such as “Hirak” or supporters of democratic movements, have become subject to close surveillance and unofficial investigations targeting their movements, meetings, and participation in public events.
Infiltration of Organizations and Associations in the Diaspora:
Algerian intelligence agencies have managed to plant their operatives within a number of Algerian associations in the diaspora, particularly in the greater Paris suburbs. Individuals loyal to the Algerian regime are selected and tasked with gathering information about the meetings, funding, and active figures within these associations. This strategy has helped build a vast database used by the regime to classify opponents according to their level of “danger” or “threat.”
Pressure and Intimidation Tactics Against Opponents:
French intelligence reports indicate that Algerian agents in France resort to indirect intimidation tactics, including veiled threats, harassment via social media, and even attempts to blackmail members of the community by exploiting their administrative files in Algeria (such as passports, real estate, etc.).
Cases of attempted recruitment of some opponents through financial inducements or veiled threats of harm to family members residing in Algeria have also been noted.
Silent Complicity or Diplomatic Tolerance?
Despite repeated internal warnings, French authorities continue to handle the issue with extreme caution. Observers attribute this silence to the desire to maintain a diplomatic balance between Paris and Algiers, especially given France’s need for security and immigration cooperation with Algeria.
However, this “silent complicity,” as some see it, poses a direct threat to French state sovereignty and its democratic values, as a foreign agency is allowed to carry out illegal activities on French territory against individuals who enjoy full legal protection.
Reactions of Opponents: Rejection of Espionage and Official Silence:
In contrast, a growing number of activists within the Algerian community in France have expressed their increasing concern about the escalation of these activities, demanding that the French government guarantee their protection from the interference of foreign agencies.
One activist stated: “We are here as political refugees or immigrants; we cannot live under the fear that every word we say is transmitted to the regime we fled.”
Conclusion: Between Security and Sovereignty:
What is happening in Paris regarding the activities of Algerian intelligence is not an isolated case but part of a broader strategy pursued by authoritarian regimes to export control and pursue opponents even beyond their borders. The question remains: how long will France turn a blind eye to the violation of its sovereignty? And does the Algerian community in France have sufficient means to protect itself from the clutches of Algerian intelligence?
