Algiers, Algeria – Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has received a formal request from German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to pardon Algerian author Boualem Sansal, currently imprisoned in Algeria.
According to a statement released by the Algerian Presidency, President Steinmeier appealed to President Tebboune for a humanitarian gesture, specifically requesting a pardon for Sansal, who has been incarcerated for the past year. The German President further suggested that Sansal be permitted to travel to Germany for medical treatment, citing the author’s advanced age and reported declining health.
President Steinmeier stated, “I have requested my Algerian counterpart to grant clemency to Boualem Sansal. Such a gesture would be an expression of humanitarian spirit and political foresight. It would also reflect my strong personal relationship with President Tebboune and the excellent relations between our two countries.”
The Algerian Presidency’s statement noted that Boualem Sansal is a citizen of both Algeria and France and a recipient of the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, awarded on July 1, 2025. He was subsequently convicted in Algeria and sentenced to imprisonment and a fine.
The case of Boualem Sansal has drawn international attention, raising questions about freedom of expression and the treatment of intellectuals in Algeria. The Algerian government has yet to formally respond to the German President’s request.
DZWatch will continue to monitor this developing story and provide updates as they become available.
