Veteran Writer Boualem Sansal Sentenced in Algeria Amid Diplomatic Tensions

The Algerian government has sentenced Boualem Sansal to five years in prison for remarks perceived as undermining national integrity. His statements regarding France's colonial legacy have sparked international outcry and support from prominent figures like Emmanuel Macron and Wole Soyinka, highlighting the ongoing tensions between Algeria and France.

Boualem Sansal, a prominent 80-year-old French-Algerian writer, has been sentenced to five years in prison by an Algerian court for allegedly undermining the country's territorial integrity. His arrest follows comments made in a November interview with a far-right French media outlet, in which he claimed that France, during the colonial era, had allocated excess territory to Algeria at the expense of Morocco, while also asserting that Western Sahara is historically part of Morocco.

The novelist has been in custody since his arrival from Paris to Algiers and has experienced worsening health, requiring hospital visits during his detention. His situation has ignited widespread support among intellectuals and political figures, including Nigerian Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka and French President Emmanuel Macron, who has called for his release, emphasizing the need for humane treatment amid deteriorating relations between Algeria and France.

Sansal, described by some as a significant voice against Islamist extremism, has become a symbolic figure amidst the strained Algeria-France relationship, which has faced a downturn after France's endorsement of Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara last year. Tensions escalated when Algeria withdrew its ambassador from Paris in response to the French government’s actions, compounding existing frictions stemming from the 1962 Algerian independence.

After the court's ruling, Sansal’s legal representative urged President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to show compassion towards the elderly writer. Meanwhile, critics of Sansal portray him as an influential figure in far-right circles, where he is seen as catering to their principles. Despite these claims, his defenders advocate for his literary contributions, including his acclaimed work "2084," a poignant satire on religious extremism, and his upcoming novel "Vivre," which delves into space colonization amid a predicted apocalypse on Earth.