Disturbing Disappearance: French-Algérien Novelist Boualem Sansal Missing in Algeria

French President Macron expresses grave concern over the fate of novelist Boualem Sansal, who has reportedly gone missing after arriving in Algiers. Friends fear he may have been arrested for opposing the Algerian regime, as political tensions rise following Macron's shift in foreign policy toward Morocco.

Boualem Sansal, the prominent Franco-Algerian novelist and vocal critic of Algeria's government, has alarmingly gone missing after touching down in Algiers last weekend. Reacting to the situation, President Emmanuel Macron has urged for urgent information regarding Sansal's whereabouts, emphasizing the significance of his freedom to both the nation and the literary community. "The president is very concerned and is following the situation closely," a spokesperson from the Elysée palace stated, echoing worries shared by an array of French politicians, mainly on the center-right.

Sansal, 75, was last known to have traveled from France to Algeria, where he reportedly faced immediate detention by Algerian authorities upon his arrival. Friends in Paris raised the alarm after losing contact with him, and it was confirmed that he never reached his home in Boumerdès. Former prime minister Edouard Philippe expressed his profound concerns, stating, “Sansal embodies all that we cherish,” while far-right leader Marine Le Pen hailed him as a “fighter for liberty.”

Support for Sansal has surfaced from other literary figures like Kamel Daoud, another left-leaning Franco-Algerian writer, who recently won France's prestigious Goncourt award. Daoud has publicly expressed his grave concern for his friend's safety, suggesting that Sansal’s disappearance is indicative of the perils faced by writers in Algeria, implying an ongoing crackdown by the regime amid a rise in Islamist sentiments.

The backdrop of this incident is a growing estrangement between Algeria and France, especially following Macron's recent overtures towards Morocco. Speculation persists that Sansal's sudden disappearance may be connected to his controversial remarks challenging Algeria’s historical claims over territories bordering Morocco. Friends and supporters lament the potential political motivations driving these developments, fearing it signifies a dark chapter for freedom of expression in Algeria.

As international scrutiny heightens, the Algerian government's silence on the matter only raises further alarm about the potential fate of one of its most outspoken critics. With fears mounting over a genuine threat to freedom of speech, literary and human rights activists are urging immediate action to ensure Sansal's safe return.