France riots: What South Africans there, or heading there soon, need to know

0 Protesters clashed with police at Place de la République in Paris during nationwide protests on 17 October. Image: Home » News » World News » France riots: What South Africans there, or heading there soon, need to know

The France riots have put South Africans living in or travelling to France on alert. Here’s which cities are affected, and what to do.

0 Protesters clashed with police at Place de la République in Paris during nationwide protests on 17 October. Image: The France riots have put South Africans living in, studying in or travelling to France on alert.

Cars have been set alight, town halls have burned and shops have been looted.

For many South Africans, the question isn’t why it’s happening.

It’s whether they’re safe, and what to do next.

On Saturday, 17 October, around 550,000 people protested across France over rising living costs, fuel prices and education funding, according to French authorities.

Most protests were peaceful, but violence broke out in several cities.

Police have made more than 2,000 arrests, and hundreds of police officers have suffered injuries.

Authorities have linked at least two deaths to the unrest: a 22-year-old police officer in Nantes, and a protester who died of cardiac arrest during demonstrations in Paris.

Clashes continued in Paris on Sunday, 18 October.

According to international media reports, including from Al Jazeera, the unrest affected several major cities:

Further protests could follow, since calls to “continue the movement” have been shared on social media.

President Emmanuel Macron has condemned the violence and called for calm.

He has ruled out an immediate state of emergency.

However, he said regional officials and mayors would be given powers to ban gatherings where necessary.

That means local bans on protests could be introduced at short notice, so check the latest local news before heading out.

At the time of publishing, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) had not issued a France-specific advisory on the unrest.

However, DIRCO encourages South Africans travelling abroad to register their trips, so the department can contact them in an emergency.

You can do this through DIRCO’s Travel Smart app, or by emailing rosahelp@dirco.gov.za.

South Africans in France can also contact the South African Embassy in Paris by email at info.paris@dirco.gov.za.

If you live, work or study in France, or you’re there on holiday:

The protests began last month in high schools in the northern suburbs of Paris, where anger over teacher shortages and poor facilities grew into a broader movement about inequality and living standards.

France also faces a presidential election next year, which could keep tensions high.

0 comments WIN R250 every day in The South African’s Festive Quiz. Good luck!