French Intelligence Leaks Document Targeting Algeria!
This document was issued by the 'French Service for Vigilance and Protection against Foreign Digital Interference,' known by its acronym 'Viginum,' which represents the technical information branch of French intelligence. It was leaked to the satirical newspaper 'Le Canard Enchaîné' and includes accusations that Algeria is waging an electronic war against France with the aim of destabilizing it, according to the newspaper, which claimed to have seen it.
In its issue published on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, the newspaper spoke of another 'war,' not apparent, in addition to the escalating diplomatic crisis, taking place in the virtual world, based on the document leaked from the corridors of the French intelligence's cybercrime fighting services. This marks the latest escalation from the French side, after months of an undeclared truce, during which French politicians, led by Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, refrained from delving into the current diplomatic and political crisis.
The document issued by the 'French Service for Vigilance and Protection against Foreign Digital Interference' claims that an army of fake Algerian accounts is waging an anti-France campaign on social media platforms to manipulate public opinion and tarnish the reputation of the French government.
It also claims that these accounts publish 'the exact same content at the exact same time or within minutes.'
The document, which attempted to provide some details, based on what 'Le Canard Enchaîné' reported, speaks of the creation of 4652 online posts and 55 YouTube videos about an alleged conspiracy by the French Directorate-General for External Security against Algeria within just twenty days in December 2024, as well as targeting some French brands, such as the cheese brand 'La Vache qui rit,' the automotive giant 'Peugeot,' and the famous brand 'Lacoste' specializing in clothing.
In a serious escalation that indicates that the warming of bilateral relations is not as close as some portray it, the French Service for Vigilance and Protection against Foreign Digital Interference accuses Algerian sovereign entities, which confirms that the French authorities are trying to hide behind media leaks in order to provoke Algeria, and then hide behind freedom of expression, as they market their justifications every time.
The document leaked by 'Le Canard Enchaîné' comes at a time when the French authorities are experiencing a state of frustration due to the failure of all their maneuvers aimed at dissuading the Algerian authorities from some of their sovereign positions, especially regarding the continued imprisonment of the Franco-Algerian writer, Boualem Sansal, and the sports journalist, Christophe Galtier, a dilemma that has exhausted the Paris authorities and put them before difficult challenges in front of French public opinion.
It is not unlikely that this incident will pass without a firm Algerian response, for which the appropriate time will be chosen, because the document was issued by a sovereign entity, and it reveals how a highly sensitive French institution views Algeria. Moreover, the existence of such a belief means that the victim party, if it can be said, will respond in its own way, and this indicates that there are signs of an impending escalation on the Algiers-Paris axis, which remains hostage to the repercussions of the ill-considered decision taken by French President Emmanuel Macron last summer, by engaging in support for the so-called autonomy plan in Western Sahara, which was presented by the Moroccan regime in 2007.
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El Chorouk
2 days ago
- El Chorouk
French Intelligence Leaks Document Targeting Algeria!
The decline in official French statements hostile to Algeria does not necessarily mean that Paris has a desire to de-escalate and restore bilateral relations, which have been on ice for about a year now. The proof is the leaking of an official document from a sovereign French body that attacks Algeria and accuses it of destabilizing France. This document was issued by the 'French Service for Vigilance and Protection against Foreign Digital Interference,' known by its acronym 'Viginum,' which represents the technical information branch of French intelligence. It was leaked to the satirical newspaper 'Le Canard Enchaîné' and includes accusations that Algeria is waging an electronic war against France with the aim of destabilizing it, according to the newspaper, which claimed to have seen it. In its issue published on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, the newspaper spoke of another 'war,' not apparent, in addition to the escalating diplomatic crisis, taking place in the virtual world, based on the document leaked from the corridors of the French intelligence's cybercrime fighting services. This marks the latest escalation from the French side, after months of an undeclared truce, during which French politicians, led by Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, refrained from delving into the current diplomatic and political crisis. The document issued by the 'French Service for Vigilance and Protection against Foreign Digital Interference' claims that an army of fake Algerian accounts is waging an anti-France campaign on social media platforms to manipulate public opinion and tarnish the reputation of the French government. It also claims that these accounts publish 'the exact same content at the exact same time or within minutes.' The document, which attempted to provide some details, based on what 'Le Canard Enchaîné' reported, speaks of the creation of 4652 online posts and 55 YouTube videos about an alleged conspiracy by the French Directorate-General for External Security against Algeria within just twenty days in December 2024, as well as targeting some French brands, such as the cheese brand 'La Vache qui rit,' the automotive giant 'Peugeot,' and the famous brand 'Lacoste' specializing in clothing. In a serious escalation that indicates that the warming of bilateral relations is not as close as some portray it, the French Service for Vigilance and Protection against Foreign Digital Interference accuses Algerian sovereign entities, which confirms that the French authorities are trying to hide behind media leaks in order to provoke Algeria, and then hide behind freedom of expression, as they market their justifications every time. The document leaked by 'Le Canard Enchaîné' comes at a time when the French authorities are experiencing a state of frustration due to the failure of all their maneuvers aimed at dissuading the Algerian authorities from some of their sovereign positions, especially regarding the continued imprisonment of the Franco-Algerian writer, Boualem Sansal, and the sports journalist, Christophe Galtier, a dilemma that has exhausted the Paris authorities and put them before difficult challenges in front of French public opinion. It is not unlikely that this incident will pass without a firm Algerian response, for which the appropriate time will be chosen, because the document was issued by a sovereign entity, and it reveals how a highly sensitive French institution views Algeria. Moreover, the existence of such a belief means that the victim party, if it can be said, will respond in its own way, and this indicates that there are signs of an impending escalation on the Algiers-Paris axis, which remains hostage to the repercussions of the ill-considered decision taken by French President Emmanuel Macron last summer, by engaging in support for the so-called autonomy plan in Western Sahara, which was presented by the Moroccan regime in 2007.
El Chorouk
4 days ago
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Finally, France Admits it Does Not Provide Development Aid to Algeria
Another card in France's political bargaining with Algeria has fallen: development aid. Many politicians and media figures in Paris have used this as a lucrative tool to mislead public opinion, in an attempt to mobilise it amid the escalating political and diplomatic crisis between the two capitals, which is approaching its first year. In this regard, Rémy Rioux, Director General of the French Development Agency (AFD), ended the controversy sparked by statements made by several French officials regarding 'alleged' aid to the Algerian state within the framework of bilateral cooperation. This statement came too late, after the issue had reached the French judicial authorities and sparked a protracted, false political controversy. Rioux also refuted the recurring rhetoric of certain members of the French far right about France's alleged annual aid to Algeria, statements recently relayed by MP Sarah Knafo, and which Algeria has officially denied, going so far as to initiate legal action. Rémy Rioux finally admitted in a program broadcast on the French public parliamentary channel LCP with frankness and clarity that debunked these allegations during his appearance two days ago, declaring that the agency he heads 'does not finance any projects in Algeria.' He clarified that the only existing support is limited to scholarships awarded to Algerian students pursuing their studies in France, thus exposing the instrumentalisation of this issue by the extreme right in its hostile discourse towards Algeria. 'We do not provide funding. What is announced as aid relates only to scholarships provided to Algerian students in France and is not the responsibility of the French Development Agency,' he explained. This statement raises several questions about its timing and why this official did not break his silence when the debate was spurious and clarify the situation. He added unambiguously that the AFD 'does not carry out any activity in Algeria and does not provide any direct financing,' stressing that 'Algeria does not borrow from us and does not ask for money,' unlike Morocco, with which, according to him, the agency 'has been collaborating closely recently', as Paris's strong partner referring to the period following the recent French position on the Western Sahara issue. According to sources familiar with the matter, the aid the French were discussing was directed exclusively to certain private Algerian schools, to strengthen the status of French in Algeria. The condition was that various subjects be taught in French, a measure that violates the laws of the Ministry of Education. However, this was subject to strict instructions from the relevant ministry requiring teaching in a Western language. The ministry also issued a decision prohibiting private schools from receiving any financial aid from France, after the issue of bogus aid was raised. Last February, a false debate erupted regarding French aid to Algeria. Extremist European MP Sarah Knafo, elected from the far-right 'Reconquest Party' led by Éric Zemmour, claimed that Algeria would receive 800 million euros each year, while refusing to repatriate its illegal immigrants, a claim that Algerian authorities considered unfounded. The French embassy in Algeria soon issued inaccurate clarifications. It indicated that the amount of French development aid granted to Algeria in 2022 was 132 million euros, the largest share of which went to scholarships for Algerian students in France, subject to conditions that did not necessarily adhere to clear and precise criteria. This issue sparked official Algerian astonishment at the time, expressed by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who addressed the French in a press statement without naming them: '…There are those who say we give them aid and money. Algeria needs only God Almighty and its children. We embrace and love our friends, and whoever wants to antagonise us, that's their business.' The Algerian Press Service also weighed in, denying the existence of French aid to Algeria and accusing the French far-right of being behind this fake news. The agency wrote: 'European Commission statistics for 2022 indicate that the total value of this aid does not exceed 130 million euros. It confirmed that 80% of this money did not even leave French territory, being paid directly to support its educational institutions that receive Algerian students, under its economic priorities. The remaining 20% financed programs aimed at promoting the French language, culture and economic interest in Algeria.' The agency also mocked French politicians who adopted this rhetoric: 'If this aid exists, Algeria would gladly give it up.'
El Chorouk
7 days ago
- El Chorouk
French Government Once Again Leaning Towards Appeasement With Algeria
French authorities reiterated their position aimed at avoiding a verbal and political escalation against Algeria. This comes after Paris assessed that this strategy would be of no benefit and would further complicate the situation of Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who is serving a five-year prison sentence. The decision was made by the French Minister Delegate for the Francophonie and International Partnerships, Thani Mohamed Soilihi, who noted that the French government prefers to act 'quietly' to secure its nationals abroad, most notably Boualem Sansal, believing that public denunciations only worsen their situation, declared the Minister Delegate in charge of international partnerships, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Wednesday night. 'There are those who agitate or denounce without achieving anything, which makes the situation worse. We act quietly, with only results as a guide,' added Thani Mohamed Soilihi. The official agency explained that the statement by the official in François Bayrou's government came at a time when some politicians are calling on the government to raise its voice, particularly about Algeria and Iran, which has also imprisoned two French citizens (a woman and a man) on charges of spying for the Zionist entity. In response to government questions in the Senate, in the absence of French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, who was in London on an official visit with Emmanuel Macron, the French minister confirmed that 'the entire French diplomatic corps is working to secure the release of detained French nationals' abroad. After an unannounced truce by the French side, which began weeks before the appeal hearing in the Boualem Sansal case and continued until Independence Day, the French had hoped for the release of their 'writer,' either by reducing his sentence or issuing a presidential pardon. However, neither possibility materialised, a development that has confounded the political and media landscape in France and placed the French authorities, led by Emmanuel Macron, in a major embarrassment before the local public opinion. For nearly a week, French diplomacy has been under intense fire from Sansal's defenders, particularly the so-called Committee for the International Support of Boualem Sansal, represented by its president, Noëlle Lenoir, and its active member, Arnaud Benedetti. The committee accused the French authorities of not acting energetically enough, believing that the time for appeasement gestures is no longer right. Although Sansal did not benefit from President Abdelmadjid Tebboune's pardon, based on the Algerian presidency's statement that excluded those who committed crimes against the country's territorial integrity, several French officials and some figures affiliated with the far right came out to confirm that a pardon was still possible and might even be considered a health consideration. This prompted the Algerian Press Agency to circulate a telegram that dashed all hopes of a pardon for the Franco-Algerian writer. This development has caused a stir in political and diplomatic circles in France, and the prospect of a renewed escalation between the two sides, which began earlier this year, has appeared on the horizon. This has been marked by the return of the former French ambassador to Algeria, who served twice, Xavier Driencourt, to the media spotlight via far-right media platforms, calling on Paris to return to its iron-fist logic and speaking of Algeria's humiliation of Paris, in a clear repetition of phrases previously repeated by the Interior Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, before he disappeared from view some time ago.
