Paris:Government decrees, Yellow Vest protests, pension reforms, riots, and now angry high school students since 2017, Macron's France has been living at the rhythm of almost annual protests. A country that so loved to read Africa on governance would now do well to reflect on its own.
According to Burkina Information Agency, on Saturday, October 17, the Yellow Vests called for a thousand actions across France, joined by a high school student movement which, since mid-September, has blocked hundreds of schools.
Before the chaos of October 17th, there was the chaos of October 1st, during which nearly 2,000 people were arrested. In Lens, a teenager had his hand torn off during a demonstration. Prime Minister Lecornu spoke of "urban violence" and accused the opposition of manipulating young people.
This wave of protests is not isolated. Since Emmanuel Macron came to power in 2017, France has experienced significant public unrest, including the ordinances on the Labor Code, the railway workers' strike, the Yellow Vests and their Saturday riots, and two contested pension reforms—the second adopted without a vote using article 49.3.
Additionally, France has witnessed nights of riots following the death of young Nahel in 2023, a farmers' revolt, unrest in New Caledonia, and the "Block everything" movement in 2025. These events have led to frequent governmental changes due to the pressures of an ungovernable National Assembly.
The demands of high school students for clean classrooms and sufficient teachers resonate with many young Africans. Similarly, worried pensioners, struggling farmers, and families burdened by the high cost of living express legitimate concerns.
France's historical role as an arbiter of democracy in Africa is now questioned, as it faces criticisms of governance by decree and the use of article 49.3. Incidents involving protesters blinded by LBD shots during the Yellow Vest crisis have drawn attention from United Nations experts and the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights.
The situation prompts reflection on the universal challenges of governance and the unique paths nations must forge based on their histories and realities. African nations, particularly Burkina Faso, assert their sovereignty and seek respectful partnerships rather than external judgment.