Ali Akbar Akbar, a Pakistani-born newspaper seller, is homeless and experienced extreme poverty
French President Emmanuel Macron (left), wearing sunglasses, awards the Knight of the French Order of Merit to Ali Akbar, who has been selling newspapers on the streets of Saint-Germain-des-Pres in the French capital for 50 years, at the Elysée in Paris on January 28, 2026. PHOTO: AFP……
Ali Akbar, a Pakistani-born newspaper seller, is homeless, experienced extreme poverty and was attacked.
On Wednesday, President Emmanuel Macron made Akbar, considered the last newspaper seller in Paris, a knight in the national order of merit in recognition of his services to France.
The French president praised Akbar’s “incredible destiny”, thanking the septuagenarian for arriving from Pakistan several decades ago, for selling newspapers for 50 years and for carrying France in his heart.
“Dear Ali, thank you for bringing political news to our terraces at the top of your lungs, for warming the hearts of Flore, of Deux Magots, of the Lipp brasserie,” Macron said during his speech at the Elysée, referring to certain emblematic cafes in the French capital.
“You are the accent of the 6th arrondissement. The voice of the French press,” Macron told Akbar, surrounded by his family.
Akbar, known for inventing sensational titles, sells his products in the upscale streets of Saint-Germain-des-Prés where he has become a neighborhood legend.
French has “become your language,” Macron told the thin, well-dressed man.
“You learned to play with it, to make it your own. You carried, if I may say so, the world in your arms and France in your heart,” Macron added.
He hailed Akbar as an example of integration that “makes our country stronger and prouder.”
“This is a magnificent example at a time when we so often hear bad news,” Macron said.
French President Emmanuel Macron (CL), wearing sunglasses, poses with Akbar and his relatives after awarding the Knight of the French Order of Merit to Ali Akbar, who has been hawking newspapers on the streets of Saint-Germain-des-Pres in the French capital for 50 years, at the Elysée in Paris on January 28, 2026.AFP
“There are also many stories like that of Ali, of women and men who fled poverty to choose a country of freedom.”
Akbar said he was “deeply moved” and already knew what he would shout in the streets of Paris in the coming days.
“That’s it, I’m a knight! I made it!” he declared at the Elysée.
Akbar arrived in France hoping to escape poverty and send money to his family in Pakistan. He worked as a sailor then a dishwasher in a restaurant in Rouen, in the north of the country.
Then in Paris, he met the French comedian Georges Bernier who gave him the opportunity to sell his satirical newspapers. Hara-kiri And Charlie Hebdo.
Akbar said last year he couldn’t believe Macron wanted to give him France’s highest honor.
“We often crossed paths when he was a student,” he said at the time.
Akbar, who receives a pension of 1,000 euros ($1,175) a month, still works every day.
On average, he sells around thirty newspapers per day, compared to between 150 and 200 when he started.
He says he has no plans to give up “entertaining people with my jokes” anytime soon.
“I’m going to continue selling newspapers,” he said.
