Editorial: Le Monde

• Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal has been sentenced to five years in prison, a punishment deemed insufferable for an 80-year-old man.
• The persecution of critical voices in Algeria tarnishes the country's image.
• President Abdelmadjid Tebboune is expected to potentially grant Sansal a pardon during the national holiday of July 5th.
• Tensions between Paris and Algiers have been exacerbated over the past year due to a series of disagreements, including the Sansal case.
• Sansal's release wouldn't be enough to completely reconcile Franco-Algerian relations.

Conclusion: Franco-Algerian relations are likely to remain tense for a considerable time. The rebuilding of this crucial link is necessary for the future of both countries, but it needs to be approached without illusions.

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