Egab Partners Forever Wars for France Protest Dispatch

In Short

Egab partnered with Forever Wars to publish a reported dispatch from Paris.

The piece connects France’s latest mass demonstrations and policing to the legacy of France’s version of the War on Terror.

What Happened

Egab worked with Forever Wars on an article by Faten Mhadheb that Forever Wars described as “on-the-ground reporting.” Forever Wars said it partnered with Egab to better understand “the stakes” in American coverage of France’s mass demonstrations.

Egab is described in the article as “a media startup connecting 5,000+ journalists and experts across the Global South with international newsrooms and organizations that want original, on-the-ground reporting.” The article also says it was “translated and edited by Joudy El-Asmar for Egab” and edited for Forever Wars by Spencer Ackerman and Sam Thielman.

The dispatch describes protests in Paris on October 17. It reports that when “thousands” marched through Barbès, the march remained peaceful, and includes a quote from Rabah, 47, who said protesters “bought from us, ate, and left.”

The article says the same demonstration ended in looting and fire near Place de la République. It says police fired water cannons and tear gas.

It also describes a banner referencing October 17, 1961, and the massacre of Algerian demonstrators by Paris police. The dispatch reports that police killed “anywhere from about 30 to more than 200 protesters,” and that President Emmanuel Macron called the massacre “inexcusable for the Republic” in 2021. It adds that the National Assembly condemned the “bloody and murderous repression” in 2024.

The article says about 550,000 people across France participated in the October 17 protests, according to the interior ministry, and that more than 1,800 people were arrested.

Why It Matters

For African and Global South media networks like Egab, the partnership is a clear example of how reporting and editorial services can travel across borders.

It also shows how unrest coverage can shift quickly from protest demands to questions of identity and blame, a dynamic the dispatch notes after violence broke out.

The article includes quotes from Éric Zemmour, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Emmanuel Macron responding to claims about immigrants and unrest.