Corsican Separatist Leader Alain Orsoni Shot Dead at Mother's Funeral: A Tragic Reminder of Ongoing Violence

Alain Orsoni, a prominent figure in Corsican politics and a former president of the AC Ajaccio football club, was tragically assassinated by a sniper during his mother's funeral in the village of Vero. At 71 years old, he was struck by a single bullet to the chest shortly after the burial service on Monday afternoon. According to Ajaccio prosecutor Nicolas Septe, the shot was fired from several hundred meters away, making it a long-range strike that fatally hit Orsoni in the heart. Witnesses reported hearing a gunshot as Father Roger Polge, who officiated the service, confirmed the moment Orsoni fell to the ground in mortal distress. The tragic event unfolded amid a gathering of mourners, leading many to question, "What is happening in our home?" as they processed the shocking violence that had breached their somber occasion. Orsoni had recently returned to Corsica from Nicaragua, where he had been residing, to attend his mother's funeral in his native village located around 30 kilometers north of the city of Ajaccio. The French authorities are treating the case with utmost seriousness; the National Anti-Organised Crime Prosecutors Office has initiated an investigation, marking a significant beginning for the new tribunal that launched in early January. As part of the investigation, authorities have opened probes into murder by an organized gang and criminal association. Alain Orsoni was once a leading figure in the Corsican National Liberation Front (FLNC), having taken the reins in the 1980s after the assassination of his brother Guy, who was also an active separatist. Over the years, he formed the Movement for Self-Determination (MPA) in 1990, following a schism within the Corsican nationalist movement, which some critics labeled as merely a "Movement for Business Affairs." His political career saw him elected to Corsica's territorial assembly in 1986. However, by 1996, Orsoni fled the island amidst violent infighting within nationalist circles, which led him to live in multiple countries, including Florida, Nicaragua, and Spain. During this time, he ventured into the gaming industry, building business ventures outside his homeland. After returning to Corsica in 2008, he became the president of AC Ajaccio, demonstrating the connections between his political influences and sports. Unfortunately, his tenure was marred by threats, including an assassination plot that the police thwarted shortly after he took office. He served as club president until 2015 and returned to the role again in 2022 as AC Ajaccio soared back to Ligue 1 but was relegated in 2023 following financial troubles. Orsoni's legacy casts a long shadow over Corsican society and the ongoing struggle between organized crime and politics on the island. His son, Guy Orsoni, named after Alain's slain brother, remains entrenched in the Corsican underworld and was recently sentenced to 13 years in prison for his involvement in a failed assassination attempt in 2018. Orsoni’s assassination is one of the most significant killings on the island since lawyer Antoine Sollacaro, who represented him, was murdered in 2012. The unresolved tensions between the Orsoni clan and the Petit Bar criminal organization, which is suspected of orchestrating the violence, highlight the dangers that linger within Corsican society. As Corsica transitions politically, vast demands for autonomy exist within its approximately 350,000 residents, a struggle that continues to underpin the island's sociopolitical landscape. Despite a marked decline in armed separatism, political nationalism remains influential, represented by pro-autonomy parties that dominate the territorial assembly. The French government, acknowledging these dynamics, recognized Corsica’s special administrative status in the 2000s and has gradually expanded its autonomy. The violence that claimed Alain Orsoni's life serves as a stark reminder of the complex and troubled history of Corsica, where personal, political, and criminal rivalries often intertwine, bringing forth tragic and lethal consequences. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2