Algerian Court Confirms Five-Year Sentence for Writer, Heightening Franco-Algerian Tensions

The ruling intensifies calls from France for his release while drawing attention to issues of free speech and national unity in Algeria.

An Algerian appeals court upheld a five-year prison sentence on Tuesday for Boualem Sansal, a prominent writer of both French and Algerian nationality, whose case has further strained the long-standing and complex relations between Algeria and France. The court's decision follows allegations that Sansal undermined national unity through his public statements regarding Algeria’s territorial disputes with Morocco.

Sansal, who has been outspoken against Islamic fundamentalism and government actions in Algeria, has already spent over seven months in detention since being convicted in March by a lower court for remarks perceived as siding with Morocco. The author, who was born in Algeria, obtained French citizenship just a year ago, highlighting his dual heritage.

In response to the appeals court ruling, France’s Foreign Ministry expressed its discontent, calling the verdict “incomprehensible and unjustified.” It criticized Algeria for not showing clemency toward Sansal, who at around 80 years of age is reportedly suffering from cancer. French diplomats, intellectuals, and prominent authors have condemned the decision, advocating for Sansal's release as a violation of free speech rights.

Tensions between Algeria and France have been exacerbated in recent years, particularly after President Emmanuel Macron of France publicly sided with Morocco in a territorial conflict involving Western Sahara. This has led to diplomatic spats, including the expulsion of diplomats by both nations.

During his incarceration, Sansal’s publisher, Antoine Gallimard, reported that Sansal's lawyer had visited him and communicated that the author remains optimistic despite his circumstances. His legal team is reportedly contemplating whether to accept the verdict in anticipation of possible amnesty.

The fraught and traumatic historical backdrop of French colonial rule over Algeria, lasting more than a century until independence in 1962, continues to influence relations between the two countries. The ongoing political climate in Algeria, under President Abdelmadjid Tebboune's administration, has also seen a crackdown on political dissent, posing ongoing challenges for freedom of expression.

As the political landscape evolves, the case of Boualem Sansal serves as a potent symbol of the tensions underscoring Franco-Algerian relations—an interplay of historical grievances and current political dilemmas.