Algeria on Saturday rejected France’s accusation of escalation, denouncing a “campaign of disinformation” in their latest diplomatic row after Algiers sent back to Paris an influencer deported from the European country.

“Algeria is in no way engaged in a logic of escalation… or humiliation,” the Algerian foreign ministry said in a statement, accusing the extreme right in France of “waging a campaign of disinformation” against Algeria.

“Doualemn”, a 59-year-old influencer, was detained by French authorities in the southern city of Montpellier after posting a controversial video on TikTok.

He was sent by plane to Algeria on Thursday, according to his lawyer, but was sent back to France the same evening as Algeria refused to let the influencer enter.

Algeria slams France’s ‘campaign of disinformation’ amid row over deported influencer