Algeria Pardons Critic Sansal in Gesture Amid Strained France Ties

15 hours ago7 min read

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has granted a full pardon to novelist and government critic Boualem Sansal, a year after his imprisonment on charges widely seen as politically motivated. The move is viewed by analysts as a strategic de-escalatory gesture amid a deepening diplomatic crisis with France.Sansal, known for his outspoken writings including the novel 'The Last Summer of a Tyrant,' was serving a two-month sentence that had drawn condemnation from international human rights groups. The pardon comes as relations between Algeria and its former colonial ruler have deteriorated over issues including immigration, historical memory, and influence in the Sahel region.By releasing Sansal, the Algerian government appears to be offering a concession to France without formally capitulating to external pressure. The act may also be aimed at placating domestic dissent and improving Algeria's international standing ahead of critical economic talks. Observers are now watching to see if this gesture will be met with a reciprocal softening of rhetoric from Paris or if it is merely a tactical pause in a protracted diplomatic standoff.

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#France

#Boualem Sansal

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#diplomatic crisis

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