Algerian prosecutors are seeking a 10-year prison term for French-Algerian author Boualem Sansal, accusing him of threatening the nation’s territorial integrity, according to local media reports on Thursday.

A leading voice in North African modern francophone literature, Sansal is widely recognized for his criticism of both Algerian authorities and Islamists. The 80-year-old was detained in November upon arriving at Algiers airport amid growing tensions between France and its former colony. A verdict on his case is expected on March 27.

Algerian media outlet TSA revealed that Sansal was charged with "affecting national unity, insulting a constitutional body, practices of a nature likely to harm the national economy, and possession of videos and publications threatening the security and stability of the country."

Speaking in an October interview with the far-right French media outlet Frontieres, Sansal claimed that during its colonization of North Africa, France had reduced Moroccan territory to benefit Algeria, thus infuriating authorities in Algeria, according to the French newspaper Le Monde.

Appearing in court near Algiers on Thursday, Sansal denied any intent to attack Algeria, stating that he had merely "expressed an opinion like any Algerian citizen," according to the newspaper Echorouk. He added that he did not think his comments could be considered an attack on Algerian institutions, emphasizing that he is an "Algerian who loves his country."

Sansal has no lawyers, Echourouk reported, adding that he opted to represent himself in court instead, while his lawyer in France stated that the writer had no access to lawyers or medical care, both allegations Algerian institutions denied.

Tensions between France and Algeria have worsened since July 2024, when President Emmanuel Macron voiced support for Morocco's autonomy plan for the disputed Western Sahara territory.

Algeria and France get into diplomatic row

This comes as the influencer known as "Doualemn," a 59-year-old, was taken into custody by French authorities in Montpellier for sharing a controversial video on TikTok and was initially deported to Algeria on January 9, according to his lawyer, only to be sent back to France the same evening as Algeria denied his entry.

The Algerian influencer was detained in Montpellier on March 20 and will be deported from French territory to Algeria, as reported by BFMTV and confirmed by Le Parisien, after the Hérault Deportation Commission ruled in favor of his deportation on March 12.

France's Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau accused Algeria of seeking to humiliate France, while Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot cautioned that visa restrictions or aid reductions could be imposed, emphasizing that France would have "no option but to retaliate" if "the Algerians continue to escalate" the dispute.

Algeria dismissed France's accusations of escalating tensions, instead blaming the French far-right for orchestrating a "campaign of disinformation" amid their diplomatic dispute over the deportation of an influencer, with the Algerian Foreign Ministry asserting that the country is "in no way engaged in a logic of escalation... or humiliation" in a statement published January 12.

The Algerian Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its position against France's hostility, stating that "any violation of the 1968 agreement, which has already been emptied of all its substance and essence, will result in a similar decision by Algeria regarding other agreements and protocols of the same nature," in a February 27 statement.

This closely followed the French Prime Minister's threats on February 26 to review the 1968 migration pact, with Algeria accusing France of breaching its commitments by arbitrarily deporting Algerians without offering them legal recourse.

"Amid escalation and tensions added by the French side to relations between Algeria and France, Algeria did not initiate any form of rupture and instead left the French side to bear full responsibility alone," the ministry stated, adding that Algeria took on the responsibility of self-restraint and is exercising its rights and fulfilling its duties to Algerian nationals in France.