Algeria pardons French-Algerian writer at Germany’s request
On November 12th, the office of the Algerian president Abdelmadjid Tebboune pardoned the French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal after Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier asked for his humanitarian release, according to France 24 via AFP.
The writer was detained on November 16, 2024, and he was later sentenced to 5 years behind bars in July 2025, after he had made comments that were deemed harmful to national unity.
The French-Algerian writer was reportedly ill, and shortly after he was granted his humanitarian pardon, Sansal arrived in Berlin for treatment. French President Emmanuel Macron thanked both his Algerian and German counterparts for his release.
France 24 via AFP
Want to chase the pulse of North Africa?
Subscribe to receive our FREE weekly PDF magazine
