In a significant development, Algerian authorities have issued a pardon for the writer Boualem Sansal, paving the way for his release from prison and his subsequent transfer to Germany for urgent medical care. The decision was announced by the Algerian presidency.
The 81-year-old author, who is reported to be suffering from prostate cancer, had been serving a five-year sentence on charges of undermining national unity. His arrest last year followed public comments he made regarding historical territorial disputes between Algeria and Morocco from the colonial period.
The pardon appears to resolve a protracted diplomatic impasse. While previous appeals for clemency based on the writer’s age and health had been declined, the latest intervention came from Germany. The Algerian statement indicated the decision was made in direct response to a request from the German head of state, citing the friendly relations between the two nations.
Observers had noted that the case had become entangled in broader regional tensions, particularly between Algeria and France, with some suggesting the writer’s detention was politically motivated. The arrangement for his transfer to Germany is seen as a resolution that allows for his release without the appearance of conceding to pressure from other quarters.
In recent months, Sansal’s imprisonment had drawn concern from a number of prominent international literary figures, who had called for his freedom on humanitarian grounds. The move to grant him a pardon and facilitate his medical evacuation is now expected to conclude this chapter.