2024 social unrest in Martinique

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2024 social unrest in Martinique
DateSeptember 2024 – ongoing
Location
Martinique
Caused by
  • High costs of living and food prices
  • Social, racial, and economic inequality
  • Curfews and restrictions on public protests by the Government of France
MethodsPeaceful demonstration, looting
StatusOngoing
Parties
  • Martinique civilians
  • Rally for the Protection of Afro-Caribbean Peoples and Resources
Number
Thousands
Casualties
Death(s)1
Injuries29 (26 police, one civilian)

Since September 2024, there have been widespread protests and violent confrontations across the French Caribbean territory of Martinique. The unrest is caused by elevated costs of living, consequential bans on public protests placed by the central Government of France on several municipalities, and the deployment of elite riot police that had been banned from the territory for over 65 years due to their prior killing of several young demonstrators.

Contents

Background

In the years prior to 2024, Martinique has been the site of several widespread protests against inequality in racial and economic areas. Protests and civil unrest were especially prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic, where several civilians protested against COVID restrictions implemented by the French government in November 2021. These protests were launched in cooperation with neighboring Guadeloupe labor unions against requirements from France made in mid-September 2020 to have a pass certifying COVID-19 vaccination for healthcare workers in order to have access to long-distance travel, restaurants, sports arenas, and other public venues, at penalty of suspension. The protests also expressed anger at widespread racial and economic inequality, and demanded general salary increases, increased teacher hiring, and greater benefits for unemployment. In response to the protests, the French government released a statement saying that, “If the law of the Republic must apply in all French regions, and therefore in Guadeloupe and Martinique, the way it is applied must be adapted to the sanitary and social situation of these territories.” [1]

The protests resulted in several shots being fired at French security forces, as well as several nearby journalists. Multiple police officers were injured, resulting in ten arrests. French spokesman Gabriel Attal denounced violence at the protests, calling it “unacceptable”. In addition to the violence, several roadblocks were set up by protesters, while cars were set on fire and looting occurred in many municipalities, requiring the use of stun grenades and tear gas to disperse protesters. [1]

Social unrest

Protests began to spread across the Martinique in September 2024 in response to high costs of living and social, racial, and economic inequality. [2] This included statistics released by the Insee indicated that residents of Martinique paid about 30% to 42% more for food relative to mainland French residents, which was viewed by many demonstrators and civil rights leaders as emblematic of lingering historical racial inequality in the majority-Black French territory. [3] [4] The Rally for the Protection of Afro-Caribbean Peoples and Resources supported the demonstrations as part of an ongoing campaign to make food affordable and equitable in price for Martinique citizens. [5]

This culminated in gunfire from protesters that injured at least fourteen people, including eleven police officers and at least one citizen, and also resulted in several burned cars, fire-gutted buildings, and looted stores. In response, police began to deploy tear gas against small protests. [2] [4]

As a reaction to the unrest, the French government implemented a ban on protests and large gatherings in Ducos, Fort-de-France, Le Robert, and Le Lamentin, and implemented a curfew in order "to put an end to the violence and damage committed at gatherings, as well as to the numerous obstacles to daily life and freedom of movement that penalize the entire population, particularly at weekends.” The legal restrictions resulted in further resentment from protesters, and resulted in larger and even more widespread protests occurring across the territory on 21 September, with videos showing thousands of peaceful protesters waving flags and banging on drums while marching on highways. [6] [7]

In response to the defiance, the French government deployed the Companies for Republican Security to the island, an elite riot police unit that had been banned from the territory for over 65 years due to their violent and disproportionately forceful suppression of demonstrations that killed several young protesters in December 1959. [6]

On 10 October, in one of the deadliest days of the riots, at least one person was killed when demonstrators set fire to a police station, cars and road barricades as they clashed with officers. [8] 26 police officers were also injured with bullet wounds. [9]

Responses

Martinique Socialist Party representative Béatrice Bellay harshly denounced the decision to deploy the Companies for Republican Security to the island, stating that: “Martinique is not in a civil war, it is a social war” that required “open and transparent dialogue” between demonstrators and government. She further clarified that: “This measure ... only serves to aggravate tensions and distract attention from the legitimate demands of the people of Martinique.” [6]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "Shots fired at police, journalists in Martinique COVID riots". AP News. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Gunfire injures 6 police officers in Martinique during protests over living costs". AP News. 17 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  3. ↑ "En 2022, les prix restent plus élevés dans les DOM qu'en France métropolitaine, en particulier pour les produits alimentaires" [In 2022, prices remain higher in the DOMs than in mainland France, particularly for food products]. Insee. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  4. 1 2 Duncan, Natricia (19 September 2024). "Violent protests erupt in Martinique over high cost of living with 14 injured". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  5. ↑ "Protests over rising costs of living turn violent in French Caribbean island of Martinique". France 24. 19 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 "Long-forbidden French anti-riot force sent to Martinique as thousands defy bans on protests". AP News. 22 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  7. ↑ "France sends forbidden anti-riot force to Martinique as thousands defy protest ban". www.euronews.com. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  8. ↑ The Associated Press. "One killed as protests over high cost of living in Martinique turn violent". ABC News. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  9. ↑ "Violent protests in Martinique prompt airport closure and curfew". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
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