French President Emmanuel Macron has urged Algeria to free 80-year-old writer Boualem Sansal, who was sentenced to five years in prison on Tuesday for comments regarding Morocco and Western Sahara. The case has intensified diplomatic strains between France and Algeria, with Sansal’s imprisonment sparking widespread international support from intellectuals, politicians, and human rights activists.
Sansal, a French-Algerian author known for his outspoken views, was arrested last year after remarks he made to a French far-right media outlet. He suggested that France had allocated excessive land to Algeria during colonial rule and insufficient territory to Morocco. He also asserted that Western Sahara, a disputed region, historically belonged to Morocco—an assertion that directly contradicts Algeria’s stance, as the country backs the Polisario Front’s fight for the region’s independence.
During his detention, Sansal has reportedly faced significant health issues, leading to concerns about his well-being. In response, Macron has emphasized the need for Algerian authorities to show compassion. “I hope there can be humanitarian decisions by the highest Algerian authorities to give him back his freedom and allow him to be treated for the disease he is fighting,” Macron stated.
Sansal’s imprisonment has drawn support from prominent literary figures, including Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka and Salman Rushdie. In France, conservative politicians have also rallied behind him. One Parisian suburb mayor has pledged to distribute copies of Sansal’s books to 18-year-olds, calling his sentencing an attack on free speech.
The case underscores broader tensions between France and Algeria, which have a long and complex history. Diplomatic relations deteriorated further last year after France backed Morocco’s claim to Western Sahara, prompting Algeria to recall its ambassador from Paris. Algeria had previously severed diplomatic ties with Morocco in 2021.
Sansal, a vocal critic of the Algerian government and Islamist movements, has long been controversial. While his supporters hail him as a defender of free speech, detractors argue he aligns with the far-right. His upcoming novel Vivre, set for release in May, tells the story of a select group of people chosen to colonize a new planet as Earth faces catastrophe.
As diplomatic efforts continue, Sansal’s case remains a focal point in the fragile relationship between France and Algeria.
