Overview

• Boualem Sansal, a Franco-Algerian author, was sentenced to five years in prison and fined 500,000 dinars by an Algerian court for charges including 'undermining national unity.'
• The charges stem from statements supporting Morocco's territorial claims over parts of Algeria, made in a French far-right media outlet.
• Sansal's trial, lasting only 20-30 minutes, has been widely criticized for its lack of due process, including the absence of a proper defense.
• French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly urged Algerian authorities to act with humanity and release Sansal, citing his age and health condition.
• There is growing speculation about a possible presidential pardon by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, potentially tied to national holidays or diplomatic negotiations.