Algeria’s power circles have always had a complicated relationship with the past—rewriting, revising, and weaponizing history as needed. But the latest chapter, starring acclaimed Franco-Algerian author Boualem Sansal, is proving to be a diplomatic minefield, not just a domestic affair. His detention, under vague national security charges, has turned into a litmus test for Algeria’s ability to stomach dissent. And, as always, France looms in the background, its own ghosts of colonial rule never too far from the surface.
Sansal, 75, was arrested in November, a move that has ignited a slow-burning fire under Algerian-French relations. His supporters say he’s being punished for his outspokenness—his literature, a relentless critique of authoritarianism, was never going to win him friends in Algiers’ upper echelons. What’s more, his hunger strike and declining health have forced the issue into international headlines. France, naturally, responded. Emmanuel Macron, eager to be the defender of free speech (at least when it suits France’s geopolitical standing), denounced the detention as “arbitrary.” The French literary elite joined in, with the likes of Salman Rushdie and Annie Ernaux calling for his release.
But this isn’t just about Sansal—it’s about Algeria and France’s relationship, always swinging between fragile reconciliation and barely concealed hostility. Paris recently backed Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara, a move that enraged Algeria and led to the recall of its ambassador. France says it wants to mend ties; Algeria, increasingly confident in its own regional standing, is happy to call the shots on its terms. Sansal’s case is now another chess piece in this ever-complicated game.
Domestically, his detention fits into a wider pattern. Free speech has never been Algeria’s strong suit, and critics have learned—some the hard way—that there’s only so much dissent the authorities will tolerate. Sansal’s books were already banned; now, he’s the latest high-profile figure to pay the price for his refusal to toe the line. Human rights groups are watching closely, but so far, the Algerian government is unmoved, sticking to its well-worn playbook of framing critics as threats to national stability.
The issue of free speech in Algeria is nothing new. The government has always maintained a tight grip on the press, opposition movements, and civil society. Journalists and activists who stray too far in their criticism often find themselves behind bars, accused of undermining national security or spreading false information. The 2019 Hirak protests, which forced out longtime ruler Abdelaziz Bouteflika, briefly raised hopes for a more open Algeria, but those hopes have long since faded. Today, the authorities seem more determined than ever to ensure that dissent remains manageable—preferably, nonexistent.
Meanwhile, the Sansal affair is playing out against a backdrop of broader regional tensions. Algeria sees itself as a rising power in North Africa, willing to assert itself against European powers and its regional rivals. It has grown closer to Russia and China, signaling a shift away from its historically complex relationship with France. In this context, Macron’s outcry over Sansal’s detention is unlikely to have much impact. If anything, it may harden Algeria’s resolve to prove that it won’t be dictated to by its former colonial ruler.
For Algerians themselves, the case is another reminder of the limits imposed on free expression. Sansal’s novels, which have long been praised internationally but banned at home, tell stories of authoritarianism, oppression, and the dangers of dogma. His fate now lies in the hands of a government that has little patience for critics. The world is watching too, but with a sense of déjà vu. Another dissident, another diplomatic spat, another chapter in Algeria’s never-ending balancing act between control at home and credibility abroad. The outcome of Sansal’s case won’t just decide his fate—it will send a message about Algeria’s future direction. And whether it’s a message the world will actually hear remains another question entirely.
