A Corsican separatist group has issued a direct threat to tourists and potential property buyers on the island, warning they will not be safe unless Corsican national rights are recognized. The warning was delivered in a video released Monday by the Corsican National Liberation Front-Union of Combatants (FLNC-UC), whose members appeared armed and masked.
In the video, a spokesperson for the group, speaking with a distorted voice, urged outsiders to “stay at home” until their demands are met. The group specifically targeted those moving to Corsica or purchasing second homes, denouncing the influx of roughly 5,000 foreigners annually—most of whom are French—as a form of “settlement-driven colonization.” They described this demographic shift as a “weapon of mass dilution” historically used by colonial powers to suppress or erase indigenous peoples.
The FLNC-UC’s statement coincides with heightened tensions surrounding a proposed autonomy bill for Corsica. The legislation, which passed the lower house of the French Parliament in June, aims to grant the island greater administrative powers but does not explicitly recognize Corsica as a distinct national community. The bill is scheduled for review in the Senate this fall. The separatist group condemned the bill, insisting that Corsicans should not be treated as “a vulgar administrative community” and vowed to oppose any attempt to deny their national identity.
The separatists held a clandestine press conference attended only by local media outlet Corse Matin. The group’s leader reiterated their commitment to resisting perceived assimilation and demographic changes brought by newcomers to the island.
Corsica, a popular summer destination known for its scenic landscapes and the renowned 112-mile GR20 hiking trail, has experienced steady population growth in recent years. Data from the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) shows the island’s population increased by approximately 32,900 residents between 2015 and 2025, about 1 percent annually.
The island also attracts high-net-worth individuals, with Cavallo, a small 120-hectare islet near Bonifacio and Sardinia, famously dubbed "Billionaires’ Island." The area features luxury villas owned by prominent figures, including Princess Caroline of Monaco and Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich. Earlier this year, Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, Prince of Venice, reportedly listed his family’s villa on Cavallo for sale at €18 million.
Following the lower house vote on the autonomy bill, Françoise Gatel, France’s Minister of Decentralisation, described the legislation as “an important step for Corsica and for our democracy,” signaling the government’s continued support despite separatist opposition.