French anti-terrorist prosecutors launched a preliminary investigation after armed members of a Corsican separatist group appeared masked at a press conference to reject a proposed autonomy deal for the island and threaten newcomers from mainland France.
The national anti-terrorist prosecutor’s office said on Thursday that the investigation is being conducted on suspicion of conspiracy to commit terrorist acts, as well as the acquisition, possession, and transportation of category A and B weapons, ammunition, or weapon components related to terrorist activity.
The regional newspaper Corse-Matin reported on Wednesday evening about a press conference held by the National Liberation Front of Corsica – Union of Combatants (FLNC-UC). It took place at an undisclosed location and date. Reports indicated that about 15 hooded and armed men were present at the gathering. Corse-Matin was the only media outlet present.
Rejection of the autonomy bill
The group firmly rejected the constitutional bill aimed at granting Corsica greater autonomy within the French Republic, calling it “a farce”. The bill was approved by the National Assembly on June 23, and the Senate is to consider it from October 21. Its proposals would recognize Corsica as a distinct historical, linguistic, and cultural community and grant its local assembly broader powers while keeping the Mediterranean island within the French Republic.
However, FLNC-UC stated that the bill denies the existence of the Corsican people and does not address the core demands of the nationalist movement over the past decades. The group declared that it “is already in the post-Bovo era” — referring to negotiations initiated by the French government after violent protests on Corsica in 2022. It also accused nationalist parties supporting this process, notably Femu a Corsica, Core in Fronte, and Parti de la nation corse, of deceiving the island’s population. The armed group said that those who, by supporting the Bovo process, claim to represent the nationalist movement, are committing “an unprecedented deception”. It also criticized the so-called “high-ranking manipulators”, Corsican financial circles, and anti-mafia groups, although it did not name any individuals or organizations specifically.
Threats to newcomers
The group also issued a warning to people moving to Corsica, particularly from mainland France. It condemned the so-called “colonization through settlement”, claiming that nearly 5,000 newcomers arrive on the island each year for work or to buy property amid a sharp increase in the number of secondary homes. Addressing those it described as “invaders”, FLNC-UC urged them to stay “in their own country” and warned that those who ignore this message cannot feel safe in Corsica.
Despite these threats, the organization stated that it would continue its so-called unilateral peace efforts and support initiatives that could lead to a genuine political solution.
FLNC first emerged in 1976 when it claimed responsibility for 18 attacks during its first coordinated “blue night” — coordinated waves of multiple bomb explosions or arsons carried out across Corsica in a single night. Since then, it has split into a complex network formed by internal rivalries, splits, and regroupings. The last major wave of attacks for which the movement claimed responsibility occurred in October 2023, when 45 explosions targeted mainly holiday homes and an abandoned tax office in Ajaccio. There were no reports of casualties.
Source: RFI
