Medhi Kessaci, the 20-year-old younger brother of anti-drug activist, author and political hopeful Amine Kessaci, was murdered in broad daylight Friday in the southern French city of Marseille.

"A motorbike drew up beside the car of the victim, who had just parked. The passenger on the motorbike shot the victim several times," Marseille prosecutor Nicolas Bessone said.

Bessone said it is possible that the assassination was meant as a "warning" to Kessaci, whose anti-drug crusade is well known across the country.

Not only is Kessaci active in victim outreach through his NGO Conscience, he has also had unsuccessful campaigns for national and EU office and recently written a book about the toll that drug trafficking is taking on Marseille and its inhabitants. He lives under police protection.

French activist says state cares less about drug crime in poor neighborhoods

Kessaci, 22, became active in politics in 2020, after his older brother Brahim — who was involved in the drug trade in the poor northern Marseille neighborhood where they lived — was murdered and his charred body discovered in a burnt-out car.

Kessaci said his brother died because he "believed in a rotten dream."

He also accused French authorities of being disinterested in problems in the country's poorest neighborhoods.

"Those who should be ashamed are the rich kids," Kessaci told AFP news agency in 2024. "They're the ones consuming the drugs," adding that they "have blood on their hands."

Fourteen people have died in drug-related crime in Marseille this year.

Amine Kessaci 'a father figure' and inspiration to murdered younger brother

Amine Kessaci's murdered younger brother, Mehdi, aspired to become a police officer.

Speaking with AFP about Amine's candidacy for parliament, he said his older brother had "always been a father figure to me" and that he was proud to see him running for office.

"To see him on television, outside on posters, to see him get involved in politics in such a tough field — especially for a young guy like him — it makes me happy," he said.

Edited by Sean Sinico