Nationwide Memorial Marches Unite France Against Narcotraffic After Mehdi Kessaci's Tragic Murder

On November 21, 2025, a white march was held in Marseille to honor Mehdi Kessaci, the 20-year-old murdered on November 13 by two men on a motorcycle. This event was a powerful expression of national unity against drug trafficking, drawing prominent political figures such as Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the National Assembly, along with left-wing leaders committed to confronting the narcotraffic issue. The crime is being investigated as a possible act of intimidation linked to Mehdi's brother, Amine Kessaci, a well-known activist against drug trafficking.

Rallies in memory of Mehdi took place simultaneously across France in cities including Paris, Toulouse, Lyon, and Rennes, underscoring a unified call for an end to narcotics-related violence. Left-wing politicians Manuel Bompard (LFI), Marine Tondelier (Les Ecologistes), Fabien Roussel (PCF), and Olivier Faure (PS) actively participated in these demonstrations, emphasizing the narcotraffic problem as symptomatic of deeper societal challenges.

Manuel Bompard urged significant reforms in law enforcement to effectively tackle narcotics issues. The left’s broad coalition reflects a rare political consensus aimed at combating the violence fueled by drug trafficking and honoring Mehdi’s memory through collective action. Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon highlighted the nation’s shock over the assassination and its implications for activism-related intimidation.

These events continue the public and political mobilization set off by Mehdi’s murder, affirming a widespread determination to confront drug trafficking and violence disrupting French communities.