French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal hopes to return to France on Saturday

Currently being treated in Berlin, the French-Algerian writer was able to speak by telephone with his friend Kamel Daoud. The contents of their exchanges are published in the “Point” column.

Pardoned and released by Algeria on Wednesday after a year of detention, Boualem Sansal will do it “quite good.” His colleague and supporter, Kamel Daoud, who spoke to him by telephone, expressed his opinion news in the column PointFriday 14 November. “I’m strong, you know. I won’t be destroyed by just one year in prison.”said the writer to his friend, Goncourt Prize 2024.

Currently being treated in Berlin, Boualem Sansal said he hoped to arrive in France on Friday or Saturday. My agenda is not consolidated, because there is a political side that takes precedence, but I will be in Paris tomorrow or two days later.

In this conversation, he also talked about the conditions of his imprisonment which were characterized by isolation. “I felt cut off from the world, except for Naziha’s visit (his wife), he explained. I’m in a very high security area. I’m not allowed to talk to other prisoners too often.”.

The writer was sentenced to five years in prison for “attack on national unity” following comments made in October 2024 to French right-wing media Border. He claimed that Algeria inherited certain territories in the west of the country, especially Oran and Mascara, which he believed previously belonged to Morocco.