• Boualem Sansal, French-Algerian writer, pardoned after a year in detention.
• Pardon granted on humanitarian grounds following German President Steinmeier's intervention.
• Sansal's health issues raised international concern prior to his release.
• The case highlights tensions between Algeria and France amid a diplomatic crisis.
• Sansal's release could signal a thawing in strained Algeria-France relations.

Algeria has officially pardoned French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, who had been imprisoned for nearly a year for charges related to "undermining national unity". President Abdelmadjid Tebboune's decision on November 12 followed appeals from German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who emphasized the need for the pardon on humanitarian grounds, considering Sansal's advanced age and fragile health, which have deteriorated due to cancer during his detention, according to Le Monde and Al Jazeera.

The release, which was facilitated by a direct intervention from the German President, marks a significant diplomatic development after sustained appeals from various parties, including the European Parliament and French President Emmanuel Macron. Macron expressed profound gratitude for Germany's role, noting that direct French efforts were unsuccessful, thus calling for a "trusted third party" to mediate the situation, as reported by Africa News and BBC.

Sansal's case has been a focal point of tension between France and Algeria, particularly due to comments he made questioning Algeria's border legitimacy in relation to Morocco. This has been seen as a challenge to Algeria's national integrity, leading to his sentencing under anti-terrorism laws. His imprisonment highlighted the broader crackdown on dissent in Algeria, following the 2019 pro-democracy Hirak protests, according to Al Jazeera and Le Monde.

With Sansal now in Germany for medical care, his situation has spurred a discussion on the handling of political dissent in Algeria and the future of Franco-Algerian relations, which have been strained by various geopolitical events, including France's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. Diplomatic sources suggest that Germany’s intervention played a crucial role in navigating the sensitive issues surrounding the writer's freedom, according to BBC and Africa News.