Algerian authorities have issued a presidential pardon for writer Boualem Sansal, authorizing his release from detention and permitting his transfer abroad for medical care. The decision, announced Wednesday, follows diplomatic appeals from Germany regarding the 81-year-old author, who is battling prostate cancer.
In an official communiqué, the Algerian presidency stated it had “responded positively” to a request from Germany’s head of state, emphasizing the friendly ties between the two nations. Sansal, known for his critical stance toward Algeria’s government, was arrested last November and later received a five-year prison term for allegedly undermining national unity. His detention came after public remarks concerning territorial disputes dating to the colonial period.
The case had strained Algeria’s relations with France, where Sansal also holds citizenship. By facilitating his transfer to Germany rather than France, Algerian leadership appears to have navigated diplomatic pressures while maintaining its political position.
Germany’s president had previously characterized clemency for the writer as both a humanitarian gesture and politically prudent, noting his longstanding relationship with Algeria’s president. The German leader himself received medical treatment in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic.
International literary figures had joined calls for Sansal’s release in recent months, highlighting concerns about his declining health. The pardon now enables his immediate transfer for specialized medical treatment unavailable in Algeria.
