Algerian and Franco-Algerian supporters sparked violence in France to celebrate Algeria's win over Burkina Faso at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. These incidents, including attacks on police and vandalism, are examined by journalist Céline Pina as evidence of decolonial thought gaining ground amid mass immigration.
Algeria secured its second victory in the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) against Burkina Faso, with the tournament taking place in Morocco. Yet, celebrations in France quickly turned violent. Algerian and Franco-Algerian supporters attacked police, vandalized public spaces, and sought confrontations, making these festivities both absurd and somewhat understandable in a broader context.
Céline Pina, a journalist and essayist who founded the association Viv(r)e la République and authored Silence coupable (Kero, 2016) and Ces biens essentiels (Bouquins, 2021), examines these outbursts in a FigaroVox tribune. She highlights the Algerian government's use of colonial memory and anti-French sentiment to bolster its domestic legitimacy. Algeria is suspected of funding influencers and diaspora members to spread accusatory campaigns in France.
A specific instance is the anti-France chant sung by a Franco-Algerian influencer after the win. Pina argues that these events demonstrate the rise of decolonial thought in France, intensified by mass immigration. She concludes: « As long as migratory pressure does not decrease, integration will be impossible ». These clashes underscore ongoing tensions around identity, sports, and Franco-Algerian relations, though sports often crystallize collective passions.
