TUNIS – An Algerian court sentenced French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal on Thursday to five years in jail for undermining national unity, drawing an expression of ‘regret’ from France, which called for a swift and dignified end to the situation.Sansal has been detained in Algeria since November, spending time in hospital for ill-health, and French authorities as well as fellow writers have repeatedly called for his release.

Ties between Paris and Algiers have deteriorated in recent months since France recognised Morocco’s sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara.

The detention of Sansal, a critic of Islamism and of the Algerian government, as well as Algiers’s refusal to take back those who are deported by French authorities, have only worsened tensions between France and Algeria.

“We regret the sentencing with a long prison term of our compatriot Boualem Sansal,” France’s foreign ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine said in a statement. “We reiterate our call for a quick, humanitarian and dignified end to this situation.”

A diplomatic source confirmed that Sansal had been sentenced to five years in prison.

Algerian president‮ ‬Abdelmadjid Tebboune had criticized Sansal, who lives in France, calling him an “imposture.”

Sansal has long been a critic of Algerian authorities, but he has regularly visited the country, and his books have been sold there without restrictions.

The court sentenced Sansal to five years in prison and a fine of about $3700, private broadcaster Ennahar TV reported.

The court charged him with “undermining national unity and publishing publications that threaten national security and stability.”

Sansal who was in court, denied the charges and said he did not intend to offend the country or state institutions.

Since France recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara last year, relations have worsened between Paris and Algiers. Algeria backs the Polisario Front independence movement, which seeks a separate state in Western Sahara.

Algeria had withdrawn its ambassador to Paris and issued statements condemning French officials’ visits to the territory.

Algiers has refused to take its nationals sent back home for what France calls violations of French law, and has continued to hold Sansal in jail.

French interior minister Bruno Retailleau threatened a “graduated response” last month, starting with restrictions on some holders of Algerian diplomatic passports.

($1 = 133.9112 Algerian dinars)

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