Name: Pardoned French-Algerian dissident writer Sansal en route to Germany
Uploaded: 2025-11-12T21:12:40.161Z
Duration: 1 min 50 s
Description: Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has granted a pardon to French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal following a request from German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the Algerian presidency said on Wednesday.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has granted a pardon to French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal following a request from German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the Algerian presidency said on Wednesday.

Algiers

French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who was arrested in November 2024 for undermining Algeria's territorial integrity, has been released from prison after nearly a year. His release followed a clemency request from German President Frank Walter Steinmeier, which Algerian authorities granted on humanitarian grounds, citing Sansal's health issues.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed gratitude to both Algeria and Germany for their roles in securing Sansal's release, though Algerian officials emphasized that France did not influence their decision. The case occurs against a backdrop of strained relations between France and Algeria, and France continues to advocate for the release of another detained French journalist, Christopher Gleize.

Pardoned French-Algerian dissident writer Sansal en route to Germany

Sunday would have marked one year behind bars for Boualem Sonsal. The author was arrested in November 2024 in Algiers for undermining Algeria's territorial integrity. He was detained in the midst of a diplomatic crisis between France and Algeria, following Paris' recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara. This recognition was welcomed and endorsed by Sonsal, whose five-year sentence was upheld by an appeals court in July. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed thanks for Algeria's kind gesture and for Germany's help in securing Sonsal's release. We work transparently with our German friends, as a trusted third party, and I thank sincerely President Steinmeier for making himself available. We were always concerned with being efficient. This is the result of France's constant efforts and of a calm, respectful method. In spite of this method, relations between France and Algeria remain tense. A statement from the Algerian presidency indicates they view Sonsal's release quite differently from Macron's. On November 10, 2025, the President of the Republic, Mr Abdelmadjid Taboun, received a request for clemency for Boualem Sonsal from Mr Frank Walter Steinmeier, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, a friendly country. The President of the Republic responded favourably to this request, which caught his attention due to its humanitarian nature. The statement appears to say France has nothing to do with Algeria's change of heart. Sonsal is known for his criticism of Islamists and the Algerian government. He is suffering from prostate cancer, according to his family. France also continues to call for the release of French journalist Christopher Gleize, who was sentenced to seven years in prison for condoning terrorism and spreading propaganda on June 29. His appeal is scheduled for December 3.

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