Kessaci warns, following threats against the mayor of Alès, of an attack on democracy

Alès – 22 July 2026: Marseille anti-drug activist and local politician Amine Kessaci described the threats against the mayor of Alès, Christophe Rivenq, as an attack on democratic order. Criminal groups apparently no longer hesitate to directly target elected representatives, Kessaci said. The case has reignited the debate in France about protecting local officials from drug-trafficking-related violence.

Christophe Rivenq, mayor of Alès in the Gard department, was the target of serious intimidation on 16 July. Threatening graffiti was discovered on his home; in addition, according to press reports, his wife found an envelope containing two cartridges in the letterbox. The perpetrators or senders referred to the so-called DZ Mafia. Whether this attribution is correct is the subject of the investigation and has not yet been definitively confirmed.

On the night of 20 to 21 July, according to consistent media reports, Rivenq was taken from his home by RAID officers on the instructions of the Interior Ministry. The measure underscores how seriously security authorities assess the situation. For the mayor and his family, the threats represented an immediate burden, as they explicitly targeted the local politician’s private environment.

Rivenq links the intimidation to his actions against drug trafficking in Alès. The city has long been fighting the expansion of organized criminal structures. Investigators are therefore examining whether the threats were a reaction to municipal and state measures against drug-dealing points and narcotics trafficking networks. The criminal investigation is continuing.

Amine Kessaci is known for his commitment against drug-related crime in Marseille and is now part of the municipal administration. His brother Mehdi Kessaci was killed in Marseille in November 2025. The investigation into this crime is still ongoing. Kessaci has now stressed that attacks and intimidation against public figures should not be treated as isolated cases when criminal groups intend to exert political or social pressure in this way.

The case in Alès draws attention to the particular vulnerability of local officials who oppose organized crime. At the same time, the presumption of innocence remains valid: the mention of the DZ Mafia in the threats does not prove this group’s responsibility. The results of the ongoing investigation will be decisive. French security authorities are under pressure to ensure the protection of those involved and quickly clarify the background of the crime.