Algeria continues to hide Boualem Sansal, while concern about his state of health grows
- Boualem Sansal and criticism of the Tebboune regime
- Kidnappings in Algeria
- Charges against six other influencers
‘I am very concerned about his health,’ were the words of the French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, after contacting the writer's wife, who is allowed to see him once a week. Although France has requested to exercise its consular protection, the request has not received a response from the Algerian authorities. Barrot is also in contact with the writer's lawyer.
The latest information indicates that Boualem is no longer hospitalised, which had set off alarm bells in France. After being discharged, the writer has been re-admitted to the prison where he was being held on the outskirts of the Algerian capital.
Sansal was arrested last November 16 by State Security forces at Algiers airport, after landing from France, as confirmed by the government agency APS.
Relations between the two nations are the main point of contention in reaching any agreement. This distancing has been aggravated by the withdrawal of the Algerian ambassador in Paris.
Boualem Sansal and criticism of the Tebboune regime
The essayist has always maintained a very critical stance towards the policies established by the Algerian president, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, especially with regard to the position on the autonomy of the Sahara and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).
The 75-year-old writer has been imprisoned since last November in Algeria for the application of article 87 bis of the Penal Code, ‘as a terrorist or subversive act, any act that threatens the security of the State, the territorial integrity, the stability and normal functioning of the institutions’.
The French Foreign Ministry has asked Algeria to issue a judicial decision on the writer's arrest as soon as possible. But Algeria's response has not yet reached Barrot's office.
Kidnappings in Algeria
The situation Boualem Sansal is facing is more common than it seems. In recent months, several Algerian activists have been arrested in France.
One of the most high-profile cases was that of the Algerian influencer and activist Youssef Zazou, who was arrested in the French city of Brest. The arrest was due to a post on his social networks, which have around half a million followers, inciting violence and terrorism against those opposed to the Algerian regime.
A week earlier, France had tried to expel another influencer known by his alias ‘Doualemn’ for a video on TikTok with messages inciting violence, but the Algerian authorities refused him entry into the country. In this case, the French security forces had to turn back when they reached Algiers, which was considered a lack of respect and an attempt at humiliation by Algeria towards France.
More recently, there was another arrest of a second Algerian influencer known as ‘Imadtintin’, who, like Zazou, posted messages on his networks against opposition to the regime.
Charges against six other influencers
Since the beginning of 2025, France has announced that there are still several influencers who are in the authorities' sights for posting videos that are considered hate crimes and, in some cases, incitement to terrorism.
There are six influencers on this list. According to the French Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, France cannot allow violent acts to be committed on its territory.
