Boualem Sansal, an acclaimed Algerian author, has been granted freedom by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune of Algeria, almost a year after his arrest at Algiers airport. This significant decision followed intervention from Germany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who highlighted Sansal's advanced age and health issues.
The writer, who has been critical of the Algerian government, was sentenced to five years in prison for comments deemed to undermine national unity. His case has been a focal point in the ongoing diplomatic tensions between France and Algeria.
Sansal arrived in Germany on a military flight for medical treatment shortly after his release, being welcomed by both his supporters and the French government. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed gratitude towards President Tebboune for this humanitarian act, stating, I thank President Tebboune for this act of humanity. He confirmed that France's diplomatic approach, rooted in respect and calmness, played a role in facilitating Sansal's release.
However, relations between France and Algeria have been strained, particularly after France's recent recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara, a territory Algeria supports for independence. This backdrop of conflict has made Sansal's release a significant diplomatic milestone amidst a history of friction following Algeria's independence from France in 1962.
In his remarks about the crisis, French ambassador Stéphane Romatet noted that the resolution of such a diplomatic stalemate would require a 'trusted third party,' which Germany effectively became. Observers suggest that this event marks a potential turning point in Franco-Algerian relations, with hopes of reducing tensions further.
Despite this development, the diplomatic landscape remains fragile, with a focus on another imprisoned French journalist, Christophe Gleizes, prompting ongoing attention from French officials.
