In a significant diplomatic development, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has granted a pardon to French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, allowing him to leave the country nearly a year after his arrest. Sansal, 81, who is battling prostate cancer, was en route to Germany for medical treatment on a military plane on Wednesday evening. His release follows a direct appeal from German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who cited Sansal’s advanced age and fragile health as reasons for clemency. Steinmeier acted as a ‘trusted third party’ in the negotiations, leveraging his strong relationship with Algeria’s leader. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed gratitude to Tebboune for this ‘act of humanity,’ emphasizing France’s role in maintaining respect and calm throughout the process. Sansal had been sentenced to five years in prison in July for undermining national unity through remarks questioning Algeria’s borders. His case had exacerbated tensions between France and Algeria, already strained by France’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and other diplomatic spats. The release marks a potential thaw in relations, though tensions persist, particularly over the imprisonment of French sportswriter Christophe Gleizes. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot praised diplomatic efforts and expressed hope for Gleizes’s imminent release.