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Join on Telegram Rabat – French President Emmanuel Macron caustically condemned Algeria for detaining renowned writer Boualem Sansal, calling the country’s actions a “disgrace”.
In a strong address to French ambassadors at the Élysée today, Macron accused the Algerian government of preventing the seriously ill author from receiving medical treatment.
Sansal, who is of French nationality, was arrested in mid-November on charges of undermining national security. He has been in detention since then.
Macron voiced his concerns during the annual conference of French ambassadors, where he discussed a range of international issues. As he concluded his remarks, he recognized Sansal, referring to him as a “fighter for freedom” who had been unjustly imprisoned.
“Algeria dishonors itself by preventing a gravely ill man from receiving proper care,” Macron stated.
He expressed disappointment, saying that such actions did not reflect the values of a nation that shares deep historical and familial ties with France, and this arrest was “arbitrary.”
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The 75-year-old author, who was born to an Algerian mother and a Moroccan father, has been imprisoned under charges related to state security and his unapologetic criticism of the Algerian regime.
He remains in a medical unit after his health deteriorated in mid-December.
Macron urged the Algerian government to release Sansal immediately, noting that “freedom is the cornerstone of democracy.”
He reaffirmed France’s commitment to defending democratic values globally and that such principles must be upheld with utmost respect and strength.
The French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, had also expressed concern about the rejection of Sansal’s release request, calling it an unjustified decision.
Barrot questioned Algeria’s willingness to respect the 2022 bilateral relations agreement, noting the growing tension between the two countries. “We want good relations with Algeria, but this situation does not reflect that,” he remarked.
Nobel Prize laureates in literature, such as Annie Ernaux, Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio, and Orhan Pamuk, along with others, have also previously expressed their support for Sansal by signing a petition demanding his release.
Sansal, who is of Algerian-Moroccan descent but became a French citizen in 2024, is facing prosecution under Algeria’s Penal Code, which classifies any act against state security as a terrorist or subversive offense.
His detention follows an increase in tensions between Algeria and France, particularly after Macron’s support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Western Sahara.
The issue has long been a point of contention between Algeria and Morocco, and this dispute seems to have further strained relations with France.
