France in flames: Unrest simmers down but wounds are deep

Following a week of intense riots sparked by the police shooting of Nahel, a 17-year-old of North African descent, French authorities reported a decrease in violence with less than 160 arrests overnight, according to the country’s interior ministry.

The nation had been in turmoil, witnessing extensive damage to property, including car burnings, lootings, and targeted attacks on town halls, with prominent cities like Paris, Strasbourg, Marseille, and Nice acting as major flashpoints.

President Emmanuel Macron‘s government, already reeling from recent protests over pension reform and with the Olympics just a year away, has been under immense pressure to restore order. The government deployed up to 45,000 police officers nightly to manage the chaos that sometimes spilled over into famed tourist areas like Paris’ Champs-Elysees Avenue.

While Sunday saw 700 arrests and over 1,300 the preceding Friday night, the interior ministry reported that 157 individuals were apprehended overnight on Monday. The ministry also confirmed that three police officers had been injured and around 300 vehicles were damaged due to arson.

French riots: Arrests decline as Macron government battles unrest. Photo courtesy of Hubert de Thé from Pixabay.

The fatal shooting of Nahel has renewed complaints about systemic racism and police violence, particularly from minority communities and human rights groups. These accusations, however, have been refuted by the authorities. Nahel’s grandmother expressed her desire for peace, stating that some individuals were exploiting his death to wreak havoc.

The latest riots present the gravest crisis for Macron’s government since the 2018 ‘Yellow Vest’ protests over fuel prices. In April, Macron had pledged to restore unity and reconciliation within the nation within 100 days, following strikes and sporadic violent protests against his decision to raise the retirement age.

In response to the current unrest, Macron has postponed a state visit to Germany and exited an EU summit early. He is expected to meet parliamentary leaders and more than 220 mayors from riot-affected towns and cities on Tuesday.