Explained: Widespread Riots In France After Police Shoot Dead Teenager

At present, France is grappling with a tumultuous situation characterised by civil unrest, ignited by the police shooting of a 17-year-old man of  Algerian and Moroccan lineage. This event has given rise to a series of demonstrations that have further snowballed into full-fledged riots engulfing multiple regions of the country, including the key cities of Marseille, Lyon, Pau, Toulouse, Lille, and the nation's capital, Paris.

How the riots in France began

The spark that set off this period of upheaval was the unfortunate killing of a teenager, identified by the name of Nahel, during what should have been a routine traffic inspection. A viral video clip capturing the incident showed a police officer pointing a  gun at the driver of a car and then a gunshot is heard. The car stops after crashing. Naheel died of bullet wounds in the chest.

Nahel represents the third casualty inflicted by police in the year 2023, leading to escalating demands for justice, a call for accountability, and the request to revisit laws regulating police use of firearms.

Deep-seated issues in France

While the shooting served as the immediate cause, the unrest stems from deeper, more complex issues. Accusations of institutionalised racism and police brutality have long been directed at French law enforcement agencies. Historical data points to a pattern of fatal incidents during traffic checks, disproportionately affecting individuals of Black and Arab origin. The repetitive nature of such incidents has led to a build-up of frustration within the impacted communities, generating a climate of dissatisfaction and protest. Ongoing dissatisfaction with President Emmanuel Macron’s government has only served to make the slip from protest to riots easier. 

What is the Emmanuel Macron government's standpoint

Reacting to the upheaval, President Macron has criticised both the shooting and the consequent unrest, advocating for stern action. The officer implicated in the shooting has been indicted with the charge of voluntary homicide and is presently under inquiry. Though Macron's position has drawn backlash from police unions, emphasising the importance of the principle of presumption of innocence.

Protests continue across France

Even with the deployment of an army of over 40,000 police officers, the turmoil has not subsided. The protests have evolved into rampant acts of arson, looting, and defacement, inflicting considerable damage to public infrastructure, commercial establishments, and transport services. The government's endeavours to restore order by mobilising additional police forces, enforcing curfews, and suspending public transportation services have yet to fully suppress the violence.

Historical parallels

The recent incidents have revived memories of the civil unrest that shook France in 2005, triggered by similar socio-political discord, and raised questions about the systemic issues that underlie these recurring periods of civil unrest. It is becoming increasingly clear that resolving the present crisis effectively will necessitate not just immediate enforcement action but also long-term strategies that address the grievances concerning police brutality, systemic racism, and social justice.

The new protests are running concurrently to the massive nationwide protests that had erupted earlier in the year. The protests started in the face of President Macron’s widely criticised move to use presidential powers to circumvent the country’s parliament and raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Questions about heightened police reaction, much like that seen in the ‘Yellow Vest’ protests have been raised about how French authorities are handling the protests.