Great battles, especially those fought against the silence of threats, need symbols to win them. Italy discovered this in the 90s, when the Cosa Nostra or the Camorra challenged the State and some people in civil society decided not to remain silent, even if it cost them their lives, like the journalist Peppino Impastato. Or freedom, like the writer Roberto Saviano. For years, France has also been confronted with a new phenomenon of organized crime, increasingly violent and powerful. Cities like Marseille have seen such impressive growth in violence that they have even been compared to Mexican cities where cartels control people’s lives.
Amine Kessaci decided to raise his voice some time ago. This was after his brother Brahim was murdered and burned in a vehicle. Kessaci, 22, decides to found an association and write Marseille, dry your tears. Living and dying in a drug trafficking country, a book in which he explores the desolate landscape of the French city, which has become the capital of drug trafficking in that country. Shortly after its publication, on November 13, Mehdi, another of his brothers, was murdered in broad daylight by two hitmen on a motorcycle. The Interior Ministry did not hesitate to describe this assassination as intimidation. The first in the city since the 1980s, when organized crime ended the life of judge Pierre Michel.
Amine Kessaci, whose last public appearance took place during the white march called for the death of his brother on November 22, now lives in an unknown location for security reasons. When he leaves the house, he does so wearing a bulletproof vest and police believe he is still a target for criminal organizations. A month after the death of his brother, who became the symbol of the fight against drug trafficking, he explains by telephone to EL PAÍS how he intends to move forward.
Ask. How do you feel?
Answer. Fake. My brother was killed just because he was my brother. He was a young boy who was going to take the police exams. An example of success of the Republic. And this gives me a very strong feeling of guilt which only increases when we think about continuing to live. And it’s difficult to have perspective on life when you live under police protection and with a bulletproof vest to go out.
Q. What do you know so far about the murder?
A. You have to be careful, there is an investigation. I see many journalists writing theories. I only ask the State to provide all the necessary means so that justice is done.
Q. How did you reorganize your life? Do you live in Marseille?
A. I cannot give this information. I am in real danger; There are people looking for me and my brother died because of it. I reorganized my whole life: studies, job and many other things. It’s not easy to live like this. I don’t wish this prisoner’s life on anyone.
Q. What did he touch to awaken this hatred and this desire to hurt him?A. That’s the question. There are authors, writers and journalists who have written more, given names, talked about places… I only published a book to tell the life of Brahim (the other brother who was murdered). I didn’t give any concrete information. If the police discovered certain things, it is thanks to his work.
Q. This murder is reminiscent of those that occurred in Italy in the 1980s and 1990s, a challenge to the state. Should we take inspiration from his fight against the mafia?
A. We have a lot to learn: confiscation of property, prisons, investigation… But we cannot compare Marseille to Palermo or Mexico. Each place has its reality. And I assure you that Marseille should look at itself in this mirror, because we are experiencing very similar situations.
Q. Is Marseille at this level of violence?
A. Of course. I’ve been talking about it and writing about it since 2020… We made documentaries alerting people to what was happening. From now on, everyone must assume their responsibilities.
Q. Is Marseille an isolated case in France?
A. No, it’s a national phenomenon. This is happening in Nîmes, Montpellier, Nantes, Rennes… Marseille mafia groups are present throughout the territory and have ties to Belgium. It must be fought on a national scale.
Q. Many consider the DZ Mafia to be the organization that ordered his brother’s murder. Is this comparable to groups like the Mocro Maffia?
A. If it is proven that they murdered my brother and put a price on my head, yes, it is a comparable organization.
Q. It was the cover of Release with Roberto Saviano. Were you inspired by his fight against the Camorra?
A. Clear. He told me it was normal to feel alone. He spent many years like this, with this pain. Talking to him was good for me; I felt understood.
Q. Have you missed the cultural voices speaking out against your brother’s murder?
A. A lot. Some people wonder where the rappers or football players were during the march for my brother. But I miss the courage of the cultural and literary world. I wrote a book denouncing all this. But if the victim had had a different last name, perhaps everyone would have spoken out against this attack on freedom of expression. The world of culture must wake up, as it has done in other cases.
Q. Do you think there’s an idea in the cultural world that your brother’s murder is just a problem created among people from conflict-ridden neighborhoods?
A. Yes. Some believe that it is about Marseille, about neighborhoods. A phenomenon linked to immigration. But it is a problem for society as a whole, in its plurality.
Q. This idea creates double victimization: murder and racism.
A. The only victim is my brother, who was prevented from living his life. But it is true that today I am not considered an author even if my book explains this whole phenomenon. My goal was always the same. We now need thousands of people to represent this fight against drug trafficking and the mafia. So that it has many faces and we are more protected.
Q. Did the state’s reaction seem appropriate to you?
A. I spoke with the President of the Republic. I think they took it seriously. But we need a radical shift.
Q. Are you afraid that over time everything will be diluted?
A. I hope not. Given the seriousness of this situation, no one will be able to say that they did not know.
Q. Do you agree to treat this phenomenon as the fight against terrorism?
A. They are different phenomena, but they can share media. I don’t know if we should send the army into the neighborhoods. I believe in a global approach, not just in terms of security: social evolution, economic alternatives to traffic, education and more means for justice.
Q. Will he be a candidate in the municipal elections?
A. I am not following a partisan logic. But I will push for the drug issue to be at the heart of any municipal program. This should be priority number one. Whether I’m a candidate or not, I haven’t thought about it yet.
Q. It is a symbol of this fight. Are you going to exercise it?
A. Life left me no choice. But I hope that others will also stand up, that we will become as many symbols to carry this voice against drug trafficking.
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