INFO L'INDEPENDANT – Disappearance of Boualem Sansal: The writer is currently detained and questioned by the Algerian secret services

The 75-year-old author, who obtained French nationality in 2024, was arrested on Saturday at Algiers airport, coming from France, several French media reported. According to the weekly Marianne, he “had no longer given any news to his loved ones since his arrival in Algiers.”

Although the reasons for his arrest are not yet known, his relatives are worried about the fate reserved for him. Itching for power as a “free” pen, the writer would be the target of the Algerian government in a context of tension between France and Algeria after the recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.

The recent awarding of the Goncourt Prize to his compatriot Kamel Daoud for his novel “Houris” could also have exacerbated the susceptibility of the Algerian authorities towards these intellectuals of French culture.

Awaiting presentation to a prosecutor

Especially since, according to several sources, the writer, winner of the Mediterranean Literature Prize in 2022 awarded in Perpignan, planned to settle permanently in France.

According to our information, Boualem Sansal is currently detained and questioned by the services of the Algerian DCSI (Central Directorate of Internal Security), in their premises in Algiers. Without knowing the possible facts with which he would be accused by the secret services, the writer would be awaiting a presentation to a prosecutor.