An Algerian court has sentenced renowned French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal to five years in prison over comments deemed offensive to Algeria’s territorial sovereignty. The ruling, delivered on Thursday by a court in Dar El Beida, near Algiers, also included a fine of 500,000 Algerian dinars ($3,730).
Sansal, 80, was arrested in November 2024 after remarks he made in an interview with a far-right French media outlet sparked controversy. In the interview, he claimed that France unfairly ceded Moroccan territory to Algeria during its colonial rule an assertion that aligns with a long-standing Moroccan position but contradicts Algeria’s official stance.
Diplomatic Fallout and France’s Reaction
The case has ignited a diplomatic rift between Algeria and France, straining relations that were already fragile due to migration policies and geopolitical disputes. French President Emmanuel Macron has openly criticized the charges against Sansal, calling them “not serious.” However, he expressed faith in Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s leadership and ability to handle the matter fairly.
Macron has also repeatedly urged Algerian authorities to consider Sansal’s deteriorating health condition he is reportedly battling cancer and called for his immediate release on humanitarian grounds.
Sansal’s French lawyer, François Zimeray, condemned the sentence as unjust, describing it as a verdict that “betrays the very essence of justice.” In a social media post, he made a direct appeal to the Algerian presidency, stating, “His age and his health make every day in jail even more inhumane. Justice has failed; let humanity prevail.”
Impact on Algeria-France Relations
Political analysts believe this case goes beyond Sansal as an individual and represents the broader geopolitical tensions between Algeria and its former colonial ruler, France. The Algerian news outlet TSA noted that the trial’s outcome could significantly impact future diplomatic engagements between the two nations.
Algeria and France have clashed over multiple issues in recent years, including Macron’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara a move that Algeria strongly opposes. The disputed territory is controlled by Morocco but contested by the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, which seeks independence through a UN-supervised referendum.
Algerian authorities have accused certain French political factions, particularly right-wing groups, of exploiting the Sansal case to undermine Algeria. Meanwhile, Sansal has defended himself in court, insisting that his remarks were made in the spirit of freedom of expression and without any intent to harm Algeria’s interests.
Possible Presidential Pardon?
As pressure mounts on the Algerian government, speculation is growing that President Tebboune could grant Sansal clemency during an upcoming national or religious holiday. Some analysts suggest that a pardon would help ease tensions between Algeria and France while allowing both governments to save face.
In a recent interview, Tebboune hinted at a diplomatic resolution, describing Macron as his “sole point of reference” in handling bilateral relations. While it remains unclear whether Algeria will bow to international appeals for Sansal’s release, the case has undeniably placed additional strain on an already complex diplomatic relationship.
