Algiers – President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has received a request from German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to consider a humanitarian gesture involving the pardon of author Boualem Sansal, currently imprisoned in Algeria.
According to sources, President Steinmeier’s appeal centers on Sansal’s advanced age and reportedly deteriorating health. The German President has proposed allowing Sansal to travel to Germany to receive necessary medical treatment.
Boualem Sansal, a citizen of both Algeria and France, is a recipient of the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, awarded in July 2025. He was subsequently convicted in Algeria and sentenced to imprisonment and a financial penalty. The specifics of the charges against Sansal have not been officially disclosed.
President Steinmeier reportedly stated, “I have asked my Algerian counterpart to pardon Boualem Sansal. Such an act would be an expression of humanitarian spirit and astute political vision. It would also reflect my personal, deep-rooted relationship with President Tebboune and the excellent relations between our two countries.”
The request from the German President places President Tebboune in a delicate position, balancing international pressure with domestic legal considerations. The Algerian government has yet to officially respond to President Steinmeier’s appeal. The case of Boualem Sansal continues to garner international attention, raising questions about freedom of expression and the treatment of intellectuals within Algeria.
DZWatch will continue to monitor this developing situation and provide updates as they become available.
