Saint-Denis mayor faces far-right backlash over Algeria's November 1st commemorations

Bally Bagayoko, the mayor of Saint-Denis, has come under fire from the French far-right after attending a ceremony at the Algerian consulate in Bobigny to mark the 72nd anniversary of the start of the Algerian War of Independence. During the event, Bagayoko participated in the celebrations, highlighting the historical ties and solidarity between the Algerian, Malian, and French peoples. The mayor’s attendance triggered aggressive reactions from far-right figures, such as Marion Maréchal and Jean Messiha, who criticized his involvement in the commemoration. Despite being labeled with derogatory terms by some political opponents, Bagayoko chose not to engage with the attacks, reaffirming his commitment to honoring the collective memory of those who fought for freedom.