Nanterre, France (1 July 2023) – President Emmanuel Macron’s planned official visit to Germany has been canceled after four nights of rioting and looting across France. The unrest sparked by police’s murder of a 17-year-old sparked widespread violence and clashes with authorities despite a massive police operation involving 45,000 police officers. A recent night of violence resulted in 1,311 arrests, bringing the total number of arrests since the boy’s death on Tuesday to 2,400.
Even after Macron called on his parents to keep their children at home, protesters and mobs took to the streets of cities and towns, setting fire to some 2,500 homes and looting shops. The interior ministry’s efforts to restore order have so far been unsuccessful as ongoing violence has taken a toll on President Macron’s diplomatic stance. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier received a phone call from President Macron asking him to postpone a state visit to Germany, the first French president to do so in 23 years. The decision highlights the seriousness of the unrest in France and its impact on important Franco-German relations on the European political scene.
The riots began when a 17-year-old boy, Nehel, was shot dead during a traffic stop in the Paris suburb of Nanterre. The incident was captured on video, showing police shooting through the windshield as the boy pulled forward. He was charged with first-degree murder against the police officer who caused the shooting. Nahel’s funeral was held at the hilltop cemetery in Nanterre, with hundreds of mourners lining the road leading to the cemetery. As a result of the moving ceremony, his coffin was carried over the crowd, culminating with prayers in the mosque prior to the funeral.
The riots have drawn attention to deep-rooted problems of poverty, discrimination and lack of opportunity in neighborhoods across France, especially those linked to the former French colonies. Young people in these disadvantaged areas are marginalized, frustrated, desperate and fueling violence.
President Macron, who has accused social media of contributing to the riots, has refused to declare a state of emergency, opting instead to send mass police to deal with the crisis. However, the situation remains precarious, with vandalism in buildings and shops in Marseille and looting of gun stores.
The riots come at a pivotal time for France as preparations are underway to host the Summer Olympics in Paris and other French cities. The ongoing unrest poses serious security challenges to the country and has raised concerns about its potential impact on prestigious sporting events.
Nehel’s death and ensuing riots have fueled calls for greater accountability for law enforcement, echoing global calls for racial justice following the killing of George Floyd in the United States.
The situation remains uncertain and authorities are closely monitoring developments as the country deals with the aftermath of the disaster.
