Shocking Murder at Funeral Raises Concerns in Corsica

Sun Jan 18 2026 21:08:45 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The assassination of former nationalist leader Alain Orsoni during his mother's funeral has sent shockwaves through Corsica, highlighting persistent issues of violence linked to organized crime in the region.

Alain Orsoni, a prominent figure in Corsican nationalism, was fatally shot at his mother's funeral in Vero, Corsica. This murder comes amid a rise in violent crime on the island, contributing to its high murder rate, and has left islanders grieving and fearfully reflecting on the state of law and order. Investigations are underway, with authorities concerned about potential retaliation and ongoing mafia pressures in Corsican society. Amidst this chaos, local leaders urge for an end to the cycle of violence.

The mourners had gathered in the small village of Vero, a half-hour drive from Ajaccio, the capital of the picture-postcard Mediterranean island of Corsica.

In their midst was former nationalist leader Alain Orsoni, 71, who had flown in from exile in Nicaragua to bury his mother. Suddenly, with the ceremony under way, a single shot was fired from nearby scrubland, killing Orsoni instantly.

Thirty-five people have been fatally shot on this island of 350,000 people in the past three years alone, giving it one of France's highest murder rates. Corsicans have become wearily familiar with vendettas and tit-for-tat underworld shootings, but even here, the way Orsoni was killed has stunned islanders.

Yesterday, Alain Orsoni was cremated after a funeral service in Ajaccio. There was a large police presence.

Close friend Jo Peraldi finds it hard to believe that a day of high emotion surrounding the funeral of Orsoni's mother could have been defiled in such a way.

A cemetery is sacred in Corsica, just like a church. Never have I witnessed seeing someone murdered while accompanying their mother to their final resting place, he told Corsican radio.

Over the years, victims of Corsica's violence have included farmers, elected officials, a lawyer, local business owners, and even the president of the chamber of commerce.

But for a cousin of the victim, Christian Leca, Orsoni's killing was a tipping point in the horror.

People don't kill in cemeteries, it's intolerable, he told Le Monde newspaper.

Judges in Paris specialized in tackling organized crime are running the investigation into Orsoni's shooting alongside the regional prosecutor's office in Marseille.

This murder increases the mafia pressure that weighs heavily on Corsican society, says Gilles Simeoni who, as president of Corsica's regional authority, holds the island's highest elected position.

Orsoni was a major contemporary figure in Corsican nationalism both out in the open and and in the shadows. His killing has reverberated far beyond Corsica, as the Orsoni family has long been linked to nationalism as well as episodes of violence.

Local leaders are calling for an end to the cycle of retribution that has plagued Corsican society, with many expressing hope that the community can find a path toward peace.