A masked protester holds a large French flag aloft while fires burn in the street behind them. Smoke rises through a dense crowd gathered in an urban square, capturing the tension and urgency of recent demonstrations in France over rising living costs and deteriorating school conditions.

France’s Domestic Crisis and Its Changing Relationship with Africa

Olakunle AgboolaOctober 19, 2026October 19, 202605 mins

France’s latest unrest has renewed debate about immigration, economic hardship and political instability. However, focusing on immigration alone risks overlooking deeper questions about inequality, public services, political trust and France’s changing position in the world. Demonstrations on 17 October 2026 over rising living costs and poor school conditions were accompanied by looting, arson and clashes…