PARIS, France – Ten years after a coordinated assault by Islamic State (IS) militants left 130 people dead and hundreds injured, France on Thursday, November 13, 2025, held a series of solemn ceremonies to honour the victims of the country's deadliest peacetime attack. The anniversary offers a moment of reflection not only for France but for nations worldwide, including Kenya, that continue to grapple with the enduring threat of terrorism.

French President Emmanuel Macron led the commemorations, visiting each of the six attack sites—the Stade de France, several cafes and restaurants, and the Bataclan concert hall—to lay wreaths and observe moments of silence. In a speech, Macron stated that 85 attacks had been foiled in the past decade, including six this year, underscoring the persistent danger. The day's events, which included the ringing of church bells across Paris and the inauguration of a new memorial garden, were held to honour the victims and reaffirm the nation's commitment to fighting terrorism.

The attacks on the night of Friday, November 13, 2015, involved a 10-man IS cell of gunmen and suicide bombers who targeted civilians enjoying an evening out. The deadliest incident occurred at the Bataclan theatre, where 90 people were killed during a rock concert. The sole surviving attacker, Salah Abdeslam, is serving a full-life sentence in a French prison after being found guilty of murder and terrorism in a historic trial that concluded in June 2022.

A Shared Struggle Against Extremism

While the Paris attacks were orchestrated by the Islamic State, the anniversary resonates deeply in Kenya, a nation that has suffered immense losses from extremist violence perpetrated primarily by Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda affiliate. The parallels in national trauma and the ongoing security challenges are stark. The same year as the Paris attacks, Kenya endured one of its most horrific terror incidents when Al-Shabaab gunmen stormed Garissa University College, killing 148 people, mostly students.

This followed the 2013 Westgate Mall siege in Nairobi, where 67 people were killed during a four-day standoff. In January 2019, the DusitD2 hotel and office complex in Nairobi was targeted, resulting in 21 deaths. These attacks, like those in Paris, were aimed at civilians in public spaces, designed to inflict mass casualties and instill widespread fear.

According to the 2024 Global Terrorism Index, Kenya is ranked 18th among countries most impacted by terrorism, a slight improvement but indicative of the continued threat. The report noted that Al-Shabaab was responsible for 70 deaths in Kenya in 2023, with many attacks concentrated along the border with Somalia.

International Cooperation and Evolving Threats

The fight against terrorism is a global one, requiring robust international partnerships. France has been a key player in counter-terrorism efforts, particularly in Africa's Sahel region through operations like Barkhane, which aimed to prevent the area from becoming a safe haven for militants. Although Operation Barkhane officially ended in November 2022, France maintains a military presence and continues to adapt its strategy to support African nations.

Kenya and France have been strengthening their security collaboration. In May 2024, officials from both nations met to advance a comprehensive defence agreement focused on counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, and cybersecurity. This builds on existing partnerships, including French training for Kenyan military personnel. Such cooperation is vital as the nature of the terrorist threat evolves. French authorities note a shift towards attacks by young, isolated, homegrown extremists radicalized online, a trend also of significant concern to Kenyan security agencies.

As Paris remembers its profound loss, the message from survivors underscores a universal desire. Arthur Dénouveaux, president of the Life for Paris survivors' group, stated, “One thing unites all victims of terrorism: the will for it to never happen again to anyone else.” This sentiment is shared by survivors in Nairobi, Garissa, and Lamu, binding victims of extremist violence in a common call for peace and a shared resolve to build more resilient societies.