A Birthday in Mali Reflects on France's Changing Landscape

In December, Moussa Sacko found himself in Mali on his birthday, a stark contrast to the previous year. He passed the day scrolling through messages from friends, each one a reminder of a shared celebration on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. The vibrant memories of that day, filled with laughter and camaraderie, were now tinged with the sadness of separation. He hadn't seen any of those friends since his deportation from France in July, a reality that weighed heavily on him.

Sacko's experience is not unique. He is one of many. Hundreds of foreign nationals, who had once been protected from deportation due to their upbringing and integration within French society, now face expulsion. This shift in policy is a direct result of legislation introduced the previous year, altering the legal landscape for those who had considered France their home. The impact of this change is felt deeply by individuals and families alike, disrupting lives and severing connections.

Sacko's journey began in Mali, where he was born. However, his life took a different course when he moved to France as a young child to seek treatment for a chronic eye condition. He spent the majority of his formative years in Montreuil, a bustling suburb of Paris. He attended school there, formed friendships, and built a life within the French community. For all intents and purposes, France was the only home he had ever truly known. The deportation order, therefore, represented not just a geographical relocation, but a profound disruption of his identity and sense of belonging.