Bagayoko was born in France to Malian parents and grew up on housing estate in Saint-Denis. Bagayoko said successive governments during Macron’s presidency had failed to address the economic inequality that was driving divisions and racism and had allowed the far right to gain support. “The far right – and racist ideology – lodges itself where there are austerity politics,” he said. He said he would continue to speak out against racism because he was fortunate to have a platform. “But how many people in France are victims of racist insults and are unfortunately kept silent?

Source: The Guardian April 04, 2026 15:18 UTC