Controversy in Île-Saint-Denis: Mayor Mohamed Gnabaly closes a Moroccan stand and files a complaint for harassment
The mayor of Île-Saint-Denis, Mohamed Gnabaly, recently sparked controversy after closing a Moroccan stand during the “Station Afrique” event, organized as part of celebrations of African cultures associated with the Olympic Games Paris 2024. This decision followed a concert by Moroccan Sahrawi singer Saida Charaf, during which she expressed her support for Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. Mr. Gnabaly justified the closure by citing the need to preserve the political neutrality of the event, saying that politics had no place at Station Afrique.
This action led to a strong reaction from the Consulate General of Morocco in Villemomble, which described the closure as an “isolated step” and an “arbitrary act”. The consulate stressed that Saida Charaf's remarks did not constitute a politicization of the event nor an obstacle to neutrality. Moroccan authorities have demanded an apology from the mayor and reserve the right to take measures to defend their position.
As a result, Mohamed Gnabaly and his wife, of French-Algerian origin, became the targets of harassment and racist threats on social networks. The mayor filed a complaint for racist insults and threats, urging the French state and the Minister of the Interior to react to this situation. He denounced the hateful remarks aimed at him and his family, illustrating a climate of increased tension.
This affair takes place in a tense diplomatic context, exacerbated by France's recent recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, a decision which prompted the recall of the Algerian ambassador to Paris. Mayor Gnabaly, known for his links with Algerian political figures, notably with the Algerian ambassador, Said Moussi, thus finds himself at the heart of an international controversy. The town hall of Île-Saint-Denis had nevertheless maintained good relations with the Moroccan consulate, but this controversy now threatens these links.
