France says it is expelling 12 Algerian diplomatic officials, a day after Algeria announced the expulsion of the same number of French officials in escalating tensions between the two countries.

The move followed expulsions of French officials by Algeria after an Algerian official was accused of kidnapping an influencer who had been granted political asylum in France.

France will expel 12 agents serving in the Algerian consular and diplomatic network in France and will recall its ambassador to Algiers for consultations, the French presidency said on Tuesday. The move comes after Algeria protested France's detention of an Algerian consular agent suspected of involvement in the kidnapping of an Algerian opposition activist.