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Algeria Gate: Boualem Sansal is once again placing his time in prison in Algeria at the centre of current events. In his book “La Légende,” the writer presents his arrest in a particularly serious light, going so far as to speak of a form of “deportation” and to attribute an antisemitic dimension to it.

This claim nevertheless requires an essential distinction between the writer’s personal account and the judicial grounds for his arrest.

Sansal was not convicted by the Algerian courts for his religion or because he is Jewish. Arrested in November 2024, he was sentenced in March 2025 to five years in prison, notably for undermining national unity, following controversial statements concerning the borders of Algeria and Morocco. This sentence was later upheld on appeal. For his part, Sansal contested the proceedings and invoked his freedom of expression.

From judicial file to political narrative

It is therefore after the facts that Sansal gives his incarceration an interpretation linked to antisemitism. For an Algerian reader, the central question is simple: this interpretation must not be confused with what actually appears in the judicial file.

The case had moreover taken on a significant diplomatic dimension between Algiers and Paris. In November 2025, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune finally granted a pardon to the writer following an official request from German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, presented on humanitarian grounds.

With “La Légende,” Boualem Sansal now offers his own reading of this period. But between a formula designed to strike minds and the facts established by the procedure, the difference remains fundamental: the publicly reported charges concerned his statements and national unity, not his religious affiliation.

Algeria Gate: The Consulate General of Algeria in New York is moving closer to the national community established in the United States by organising several consular sessions devoted to biometric passport applications. Mobile stations will be deployed between late October and mid-November 2026 in Illinois, Massachusetts and Florida.

According to a consulate statement relayed on 19 September, the first session is scheduled in Chicago, Illinois, on 29th, 30th and 31st October 2026. Consular teams will then travel to Boston, Massachusetts, on November 6th and 7th, before a third operation planned in Florida on November 13th and 14th 2026. Algerians residing in neighbouring states will also be able to benefit from these visits.

A mandatory step before travelling

These sessions will mainly allow Algerian nationals to have their photograph taken and fingerprints recorded — necessary steps for the issuance of a biometric passport.

The consulate nevertheless reminds applicants that those wishing to benefit from this operation must imperatively submit their passport application file before travelling. The announced deadline for sending files is set at October 15th 2026.

Passport applications may be accompanied, when necessary, by a request for renewal of consular registration or a first registration. The consulate’s normal procedure moreover provides that Algerian citizens residing permanently abroad must be registered with their consular representation before a passport is issued.

For applicants aged 12 and over, physical presence is required for the biometric formalities. The consulate’s official website specifies that children under 12 are exempt from personal appearance for fingerprinting.

Attention: no other consular services on site

The consulate also insists on an important point: these mobile sessions will be exclusively devoted to biometric operations linked to the passport. Agents will therefore not process visa applications, powers of attorney or other consular services on site.

Likewise, a national who presents themselves directly in Chicago, Boston or Florida without having previously submitted their file risks being unable to complete the fingerprinting.

This initiative aims to facilitate the procedures of Algerians who sometimes live several hundred or even several thousand kilometres from New York. The Consulate General’s jurisdiction currently covers 25 American states, including Illinois, Massachusetts and Florida.

With these mobile biometric stations, the nationals concerned will thus be able to complete the step requiring their physical presence without systematically having to travel to the consulate headquarters in New York.

Algeria Gate: Algeria is confirming its weight on the African energy market. According to data from the Energy Research Unit, the country ranked as the fourth African exporter of crude oil transported by sea, with an average of 380,000 barrels per day between March and August 2026.

Over this period, Algeria came behind Libya, Nigeria and Angola, three other major producers on the continent. This ranking underlines the important place occupied by Algerian oil in international energy exchanges, notably thanks to the country’s port infrastructure and export capacities.

Rising production

This performance comes in a context marked by an increase in national production. During the second quarter of 2026, Algerian crude oil production reached approximately 980,000 barrels per day. Including other petroleum liquids, the country’s total production rose to nearly 1.45 million barrels per day. These volumes enable Algeria to maintain a significant presence on the African and Mediterranean oil markets while meeting part of the demand from its foreign partners.

380,000 barrels exported every day by sea

Between March and August 2026, Algerian crude exports transported by ship therefore averaged 380,000 barrels daily. This figure is particularly important since maritime transport constitutes one of the main means of shipping crude oil to international markets. With this fourth place in Africa, Algeria positions itself among the continent’s main crude suppliers, alongside the major oil powers that are Nigeria, Libya and Angola.

Energy remains a strategic sector for Algeria

Hydrocarbons continue to play a central role in the Algerian economy and in the country’s commercial exchanges. The production increase observed in 2026 could allow Algeria to consolidate its export capacities, in an international context where the security of energy supplies remains a major issue.

The ranking of maritime exports also highlights the competition between the main African producers, as several countries seek to increase their production and attract more investment in the energy sector.

For Algeria, the challenge will now be to maintain its production levels, strengthen its export capacities and continue investments in the oil sector, while in parallel developing natural gas and new energy pathways.