Algeria calls for ten years in prison for Boualem Sansal, a writer critical of the regime

The Algerian Public Prosecutor's Office has requested a ten-year prison sentence for the Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, accused of ‘attacks against national unity’ and ‘publications against the security and stability of the country’.  

Sansal, a well-known opponent of the Algerian government, was arrested on 21 November 2024 by members of the Algerian Directorate General of Internal Security (DGSI) on his return to Algeria from France. 

During his appearance before the court in Dar el Beida, in the Algerian capital, the writer decided to defend himself, without the support of a lawyer, according to the local newspaper Echorouk. 

Sansal's arrest has exacerbated tensions between Algeria and France, whose bilateral relations have deteriorated in recent months. The writer's arrest is one of a series of incidents that have fuelled the diplomatic rift between the two countries, in a context marked by Paris' support for Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara. 

Sansal's arrest at Algiers airport not only drew criticism from the French authorities, but also highlighted the growing tension between the two countries. In recent weeks, several influential Algerian citizens have been arrested in France on charges of inciting violence, which has contributed to the diplomatic escalation. 

Boualem Sansal, known for his criticism of the Algerian regime and his defence of freedom of expression, now faces a trial that has aroused concern in the international community. While the public prosecutor is calling for a severe sentence, public opinion remains attentive to the resolution of a case that has become a symbol of the political and diplomatic tensions between Algeria and France.