Latest news with #DarElBeida
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Algeria court to rule on bid to double writer's jail term
An Algerian court is expected to deliver a verdict Tuesday on prosecutors' bid to double the jail term of a dual-national author whose conviction has strained ties with France. Boualem Sansal, 80, was first sentenced to five years behind bars on March 27 on charges related to undermining Algeria's territorial integrity over comments made to a French media outlet. The prosecutor general appealed last month and is seeking a 10-year prison sentence. A prize-winning figure in North African modern francophone literature, Sansal is known for his criticism of Algerian authorities as well as of Islamists. The case against him arose after he told the far-right outlet Frontieres that France had unjustly transferred Moroccan territory to Algeria during the colonial period from 1830 to 1962 -- a claim Algeria views as a challenge to its sovereignty and that aligns with longstanding Moroccan territorial assertions. Sansal was detained in November 2024 upon arrival at Algiers airport. On March 27, a court in Dar El Beida sentenced him to a five-year prison term and fined him 500,000 Algerian dinars ($3,730). Appearing in court without legal counsel on June 24, Sansal said the case against him "makes no sense" as "the Algerian constitution guarantees freedom of expression and conscience". He defended his remarks by citing the African Union's post-independence declaration that colonial borders should remain inviolable. When questioned about his writings, Sansal asked: "Are we holding a trial over literature? Where are we headed?" - Diplomatic rift - His family has expressed fears prison could jeopardise his health, noting he is receiving treatment for prostate cancer. French President Emmanuel Macron has appealed to his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune to show "mercy and humanity" toward Sansal. Authorities in the North African country maintain that due process is being respected. The writer's conviction further strained already tense France-Algeria relations, which have been complicated by issues such as migration and Macron's recent recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, a disputed territory claimed by the Algeria-backed Polisario Front. Last month, the French National Assembly passed a resolution calling for Sansal's immediate release and linking future EU-Algeria cooperation to respect for human rights. While his case has become a cause celebre in France, among Algerians his past support for Israel has made him unpopular with a large segment of the population who back the Palestinian cause. Sansal faces charges including "undermining national unity", "insulting state institutions", "harming the national economy", and "possessing media and publications threatening the country's security and stability". Sansal's daughters, Nawel and Sabeha, told AFP in May they felt "a sense of total helplessness" over their father's imprisonment "simply for expressing an opinion". Some of the author's relatives have expressed hope that he will be pardoned on July 5, the 63rd anniversary of Algeria's independence. bur-fka-dv/smw/tc
Morocco World
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Morocco Takes Over Maritime Mapping from France
Doha – Morocco has officially taken over responsibility for producing and distributing marine charts of its territorial waters from France, marking the end of a 16-year transition process that began in 2008. The agreement was signed on Thursday at the National Defense Administration headquarters in Rabat by French Ambassador to Morocco Christophe Lecourtier and Abdellatif Loudiyi, Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of National Defense Administration. The transition transfers cartographic responsibility from France's National Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOM) to the Royal Moroccan Navy's Division of Hydrography, Oceanography and Cartography (DHOC). The partnership, which saw the light in 2008, included comprehensive training of Moroccan hydrographers and cartographers at SHOM's school in Brest, France. The collaboration also involved technical and educational support during the construction of Morocco's hydrographic and oceanographic vessel 'Dar El Beida' by France's Piriou shipyard in Concarneau. The vessel entered service with the Royal Moroccan Navy in 2018. Between 2009 and 2024, the partnership resulted in the co-publication of 18 electronic navigation charts and 17 paper marine charts. The first co-produced chart covered the area from Sidi Al Hachmi to Mohammedia, with the final one focusing on the Port of Tangier City. Under the new agreement, DHOC will independently produce and distribute marine charts for waters under Moroccan jurisdiction. A handover period will facilitate the transfer of existing Moroccan charts from SHOM to DHOC. Despite the transfer of responsibilities, both hydrographic and oceanographic services are expected to maintain collaboration on matters of mutual interest, building on their established relationship. The signing ceremony was also attended by Laurent Kerleguer, Director General of SHOM. Read also: Spanish Expert: Defining Maritime Borders with Morocco Hinges on Western Sahara Resolution Tags: Moroccan MaritimeMorocco France Relations
