Algerian writer Boualem Sansal has been transferred to Germany for medical care after receiving a pardon from Algerian authorities. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who had previously appealed for the author's release due to his fragile health, confirmed the arrival and thanked Algeria's president for the humanitarian gesture. Sansal, who has prostate cancer, was serving a five-year prison sentence for allegedly undermining Algeria's territorial integrity through comments made to a French media outlet.
French President Emmanuel Macron also welcomed the decision, expressing gratitude to both Germany and Algeria. Sansal's daughter relayed her relief, having feared her father might die in custody. The writer, a prominent francophone literary figure known for criticizing the Algerian government, was arrested in 2024 after expressing views that aligned with Moroccan territorial claims. His case had become a focal point in ongoing diplomatic tensions between France and Algeria.
French President Emmanuel Macron also welcomed the decision, expressing gratitude to both Germany and Algeria. Sansal's daughter relayed her relief, having feared her father might die in custody. The writer, a prominent francophone literary figure known for criticizing the Algerian government, was arrested in 2024 after expressing views that aligned with Moroccan territorial claims. His case had become a focal point in ongoing diplomatic tensions between France and Algeria.
