Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, 80, was sentenced this Thursday, March 27, to five years in prison and a fine of 500 dinars (approximately 000 euros) by the Dar El Beida Criminal Court in Algiers. A heavy sentence following a speedy trial that lasted only about twenty minutes. Initially prosecuted for "intelligence with the enemy," the author was ultimately tried for offenses related to state security: undermining national unity, insulting a constituted body, undermining the national economy, and possessing documents threatening the country's security.
Appearing without a lawyer, after having himself denounced his defense, Sansal declared that he had spoken as a citizen, within the framework of freedom of opinion. He denied any insulting remarks or intention to harm Algeria, nevertheless acknowledging that some of his private exchanges on WhatsApp with the former French ambassador or members of the Kabyle diaspora could have been misinterpreted. He also claimed to understand neither official Arabic nor the Algerian dialect, speaking in French during the hearing.
A political solution behind the scenes?
A symbol of the growing repression of critical voices in Algeria, this conviction has sparked outrage beyond its borders. Sansal, a respected novelist, is known for his stance against Islamism and the authoritarian excesses of the regime. Elderly, ill—he suffers from cancer—and detained since November, the writer has been held in a prison section of Mustapha Pacha Hospital. This treatment has been deemed inhumane by several international observers.
Behind the scenes within the regime, however, some are suggesting a possible calming of the situation. According to judicial sources, the reclassification of the charges from criminal to correctional could pave the way for a presidential pardon. But this would require neither the prosecution nor Sansal to appeal. Questioned in February, President Tebboune did not reject this prospect, while still allowing uncertainty.
This affair comes amid tense diplomatic tensions between Algiers and Paris. President Macron, while affirming his confidence in his Algerian counterpart, described the situation as "very serious." French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot may soon visit Algiers in an attempt to revive bilateral dialogue. But for many of Boualem Sansal's supporters, both in France and Algeria, the signal sent is clear: in the Algeria of 2025, freedom of thought and writing remains a danger for intellectuals.
