France Demands Algerian Pardon for Boualem Sansal Amid Escalating Tensions
French PM and officials push for writer's release as Sansal’s imprisonment deepens diplomatic rift with Algeria.
Watan-French Prime Minister François Bayrou has expressed his dismay over the continued imprisonment of Algerian-French writer Boualem Sansal in Algeria, as calls persist within France urging Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to issue a presidential pardon.
Speaking before members of his Democratic Movement party, Bayrou said Sansal’s conviction and his exclusion from a recent mass presidential pardon represent an affront not only to the government but to “all French citizens,” calling it a violation of fundamental values of solidarity and freedom. He condemned Sansal’s imprisonment for his “publicly stated views” as “intolerable.”
According to French media, President Emmanuel Macron is expected to comment soon on Sansal’s case. Diplomatic sources suggest that a humanitarian pardon remains legally possible due to the discretionary powers available to President Tebboune outside of national holidays or formal occasions.
France’s current strategy appears focused on pressuring Algeria for a presidential pardon, especially after Sansal declined to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court—effectively making his sentence final and thus eligible for executive clemency.
Tebboune recently granted amnesty to around 7,000 prisoners on Independence Day but excluded those convicted of conspiracy, treason, and espionage—categories that seemingly include Sansal.
French Disappointment and Caution
Widespread disappointment followed the Algerian court’s decision to sentence Sansal to five years in prison, prompting notable restraint from French officials seeking to avoid worsening diplomatic tensions.
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, known for his hardline views on immigration and Algeria, called the Franco-Algerian relationship “polarized” but avoided inflammatory rhetoric. On BFMTV, he referenced disputes such as France’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and deportations of Algerian nationals but refrained from direct criticism of Algiers.
Even far-right MP Éric Ciotti, who had previously pushed to cancel the 1968 migration agreement with Algeria—labeling it “discriminatory”—suddenly withdrew his proposal. This move was widely interpreted as a gesture to de-escalate tensions, likely tied to Sansal’s case.
Sansal’s Controversial Statements and Arrest
Sansal was imprisoned following accusations of undermining national unity and other charges related to statements in which he claimed part of Algerian territory belonged to Morocco. He was arrested on November 16, 2023, upon arrival at Algiers airport, after appearing on a far-right French TV channel and questioning Algeria’s current borders.
He was placed in pretrial detention under Article 87 bis of Algeria’s Penal Code, which criminalizes acts considered threats to national security and categorizes them as terrorism.
The case significantly worsened tensions between France and Algeria, especially after President Macron stated that “Algeria dishonors itself by jailing a writer,” prompting a sharp response from Tebboune, who described Sansal as an “unknown thief claiming half of Algeria belongs to another country.”
Although a phone call between the two presidents in April had raised hopes for Sansal’s release, any momentum was halted following the emergence of the “Amir DZ case,” which effectively reignited bilateral hostilities.
Who is Boualem Sansal?
Sansal, a former Director of Industry in Algeria during the early 2000s, is known for his provocative political views, which many in Algeria deem treasonous. He has described Algerian independence heroes as terrorists, espoused extreme anti-Islamist rhetoric, and defended Israel, which he has visited multiple times.
His support for Israel became more visible after Operation Al-Aqsa Flood in October 2023, as he published writings and made frequent public statements backing Israeli actions.
