Even before France could shake off the aftershocks of the "Yellow Vests" - a movement that caused tremors through its streets for months, before it had time to mend the wounds from the violent protests incited by proposed pension reforms, it was rocked yet again. Amid a deeply divided political climate, defined by an election that fragmented the Parliament, stripping the president of an absolute majority and shaking his authority, France's working-class districts and major cities once again found themselves in the throes of a fiery revolt. This latest uprising was triggered by the tragic police shooting of 17-year-old Nael Al-Marzouki.

The events leading up to this moment paint a picture of a France, albeit a global heavyweight, grappling with the mounting challenges of its suburbs and strained relations with immigrant communities. This crisis has brought to light a severe trust deficit between the State and a significant chunk of French society. Is France on the brink of a breakdown, weakened from a protracted struggle? Or has the "Republic" forsaken these populated working-class districts, seething with anger and hardship, in spite of empty promises and meaningless rhetoric?

The spreading wave of anger, coursing from street to street, city to city, underscores a latent issue, a tinderbox just waiting for a spark to ignite. It raises urgent questions about France's handling of social conflict and its increasingly political nature. Those living in the peripheral districts decry a systemic reality that dismisses their challenges, pushing them further to the margins of the country's wealth and power distribution. Meanwhile, the police find themselves in the eye of the storm, bearing the brunt of a dilemma that they believe rests squarely on the State and the entire political machinery, whether they support or oppose it, and they are the ones suffering the fallout.

This incident has escalated into a crime scene as the prosecutor has levied premeditated murder charges against the officer who pulled the trigger, his victim, a young immigrant of Arab descent. The tragedy that cost the life of this young man and forever altered his family's existence has reignited a recurring debate between right and left-leaning factions. Some aspects take on a socio-economic dimension, while others adopt an identity and cultural lens, appealing to far-right parties and populist movements.

Caught between the staunch support of the far-right proclaiming "the police's right to defend French citizens" and the left's condemnation of a 'license to kill' granted to officers, this incident has been opportunistically and maliciously leveraged for political point-scoring and furthering electoral agendas.

A closer look at the history of the French state, from the monarchy era through to the republican era, and traversing the revolution, reveals ingrained faulty rules. Among them, the police's mission isn't so much about protecting the citizens but preserving the state's integrity, a theme today embodied in the defense of the "Republic". What compounds the situation is the police and right-wing's relentless argument that "the force of the law is always on the right side" and "the police never err".

However, the truth is that security forces do make mistakes, and incidents occur with alarming regularity. In less than a year, the past year to be precise, no fewer than 13 errors were recorded, involving police officers firing at individuals!

This unfolding situation in France stands out within the European landscape, where no other country experiences such pronounced levels of violence and riots, now deeply embedded in France's political and social tradition. International human rights organizations have vociferously criticized this violent trend in French police methods towards individuals. Among them, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has urged French authorities to closely monitor police use of force and adhere to the fundamental principles of citizens' rights. France's colonial legacy, especially in North Africa, coupled with the successive governments' failure to fulfill the promise of integrating immigrant society, likely contribute to a rigid administrative and cultural mindset, fostering latent racism within the law enforcement. This scenario has stoked an exacerbated identity debate in the country, without offering any concrete solutions to quell the violence in the suburbs.

However, it is crucial not to overlook the reality of the growing and intensifying protest movements, and their structured organization. This raises the question of who is guiding these young people in their mobilization and coordinating their actions. Ready-made answers exist, pointing to the interests of the far-left or far-right fanning the flames of disagreement against the Macron administration, seeking to bolster their chances of gaining power. This situation is causing a rise in extremism in some quarters in response to these developments. But, it is important to underline that such an analysis remains an internal perspective influenced by the power dynamics and political alliances within the national space.

Other responses, equally significant and concerning, merit exploration. It is crucial to consider the possibility of involvement from external actors such as organizations or countries in the ongoing events. As France's international role is amplified in various regions of the world, it's impossible to ignore this eventuality, especially as it can sometimes clash with the interests of other nations. Be it in Ukraine, the Eastern Mediterranean, the nuclear realm, or Africa, France's complex role raises legitimate questions.