French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal has been sentenced to five years in prison by an Algerian court, a ruling that has intensified an ongoing diplomatic dispute between Algeria and France. The 80-year-old novelist, who has been critical of both the Algerian government and Islamist groups, was convicted on charges of undermining Algeria’s territorial integrity.
Sansal was arrested in November after making controversial comments in an interview with a far-right French media outlet, where he stated that France had unfairly ceded Moroccan territory to Algeria during the colonial era. This statement, echoing Morocco’s long-standing claims, was deemed by Algerian authorities as a direct challenge to their national sovereignty.
The trial, which took place in Dar El Beida near Algiers, concluded with the court sentencing Sansal to five years in prison and a fine of 500,000 Algerian dinars (about $3,730). Prosecutors had originally sought a ten-year sentence for the writer, whose books have been widely available in Algeria despite his outspoken criticism of the government.
The case has sparked a wave of support from French intellectuals and officials, with French President Emmanuel Macron condemning the charges as “not serious.” Macron has called for Sansal’s release, emphasizing the author’s fragile health due to cancer. In his statements, Macron expressed confidence in Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s ability to handle the matter with clarity and fairness.
Sansal’s French lawyer, Francois Zimeray, criticized the court’s decision as a miscarriage of justice. He wrote on social media, “This sentence betrays the very meaning of the word justice. His age and his health make every day he spends in jail even more inhuman. I appeal to the Algerian presidency: justice has failed, let humanity at least prevail.”
The sentence also has significant implications for diplomatic relations between Algeria and France, which have been strained in recent years over issues including migration and the recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara. Algerian news outlet TSA reported that the trial is about more than just Sansal’s fate; it’s a pivotal moment for the future of Algeria-France relations.
During the trial, Sansal denied any malicious intent, insisting that he was merely expressing an opinion in the name of freedom of speech. He explained that he did not foresee the potential consequences of his remarks on Algeria’s borders with Morocco.
As tensions mount, Algerian President Tebboune has attempted to ease the situation, stating that the case is “in good hands” and reaffirming his trust in Macron as his primary partner in resolving the dispute.
While analysts speculate that Sansal might receive a presidential pardon during an upcoming holiday, his conviction remains a symbol of the complex and often contentious relationship between Algeria and its former colonial ruler, France.
About The Author
