Algiers fails to include Boualem Sansal in its presidential pardon list
In a continued diplomatic standoff, Franco-Algerian author Boualem Sansal remains imprisoned in Algeria, serving a five-year sentence for undermining national unity. Sansal, who is reportedly suffering from prostate cancer, has been incarcerated for over seven months following his conviction in November 2023.
The verdict, upheld on appeal on Tuesday, has sparked concern among French officials, including Prime Minister François Bayrou and President Emmanuel Macron, who have urged Algeria to consider pardoning Sansal due to his health conditions and the strained relations between the two countries. As of the latest updates, there is no indication that Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has granted a pardon to Sansal.
Sansal's conviction stems from statements he made regarding territories that Algeria inherited under French colonization, specifically the cities of Oran and Mascara in western Algeria, which were previously part of Morocco. This issue has further complicated the already tense relationship between Algeria and France, which began in July 2024 over France recognizing a plan for autonomy "under Moroccan sovereignty" for Western Sahara. Western Sahara is a territory that has been disputed for fifty years between Morocco and the Polisario Front independence supporters, with Algeria backing the latter.
Sansal's legal team, led by Pierre Cornut-Gentille, has eight days to decide whether to appeal to the supreme court. Cornut-Gentille has discussed the possibility of filing a cassation appeal with Sansal, should the author choose to pursue this option. If the supreme court also upholds the sentence, Sansal would serve the full five-year term.
The diplomatic battle between Algeria and France over Sansal's arrest has been ongoing since November 16th. The crisis has resulted in the expulsion of diplomats on both sides and the freezing of all cooperation. Bayrou has expressed hope for Sansal's presidential pardon, describing his situation as "unbearable".
This ongoing dispute not only affects the personal fate of Sansal but also the broader relationship between Algeria and France, two nations with a long and complex history. As the situation continues to unfold, both nations and the international community will watch closely to see how this matter is resolved.
The diplomatic standoff between Algeria and France over the incarceration of Franco-Algerian author Boualem Sansal, sparking concern among French officials, has escalated to include politics and general news. This conflict, rooted in Sansal's conviction for undermining national unity and his statements on territories inherited under French colonization, has expanded to encompass crime-and-justice and war-and-conflicts, with the two nations' strained relations further complicated by the long-standing dispute over Western Sahara.
