| 2021–2022 French West Indies unrest | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 17 November 2021—31 March 2022 (4 months and 2 weeks) | ||
| Location | French West Indies | ||
| Goals |
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| Methods |
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| Resulted in |
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| Parties | |||
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| Lead figures | |||
No centralized leadership | |||
| Casualties | |||
| Death | 1[1] | ||
| Injuries | 11 police officers injured[2][3]
| ||
The2021–2022 French West Indies unrest is a social conflict that took place from 17 November 2021, until 31 March 2022, in theFrench West Indies, particularly inGuadeloupe andMartinique. Unrest has also been reported in otherOverseas Territories likeSaint Pierre and Miquelon.[4]
Following the French government's decision to introduce compulsory vaccination for health care workers and the health pass in several public places, acts of vandalism, a general strike, and demonstrations began, first in Guadeloupe and then in Martinique.[5]
On 31 March 2022, the state of health emergency ends in theFrench West Indies.[6]
On 19 November, the prefect of Guadeloupe instituted a curfew from 6:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. for security reasons.[7]
The authorities announced the closure of schools and prefectural services on 22 November.[5]
The same day, the revolt spread to Martinique.[8]
On 26 November, the Minister for Overseas France,Sébastien Lecornu, announced the postponement of the vaccination requirement until 31 December and said he was ready to "talk about the autonomy of Guadeloupe"[9]
Gunfire, mortar fire, flaming barricades, tear gas: in the streets of the small town of Lamentin to the east of Fort-de-France, en Martinique, the aftermath of the evacuation of the Mahault roundabout looked like a "small urban war" on the night from 1 to 2 December.[10]
In December 2021, candidates for the2022 French presidential electionMarine Le Pen andJean-Luc Mélenchon visitedMayotte andGuadeloupe.[11]
On 24 December, protesters briefly invaded theRegional Council of Guadeloupe and remained there overnight.[12]
On 3 January, a group of organizations opposed to the health pass and mandatory vaccination organized a "snail operation" by car, which led to traffic jams.[13]
On 4 January, a series of small roadblocks were set up and fires started in the municipality of Sainte-Rose.[14]
The same day, trade unionists from the UTS-UGTG blocked the administrative building of the University Hospital ofPointe-à-Pitre and sequestered the staff for several hours.[15]
On 9 January, the deputy ofSaint-Pierre and Miquelon,Stéphane Claireaux, was attacked by protesters. PresidentEmmanuel Macron reacted by denouncing the attack as "intolerable" and "unacceptable".[16]
On 10 January, roadblocks were set up by demonstrators and stones were thrown at the police inBasse-Terre.[17]
On 11 January, protesters demonstrated outsidePointe-à-Pitre university hospital and clashed with police.[18][19]
On 20 January, rioters injured a police officer with live ammunition on the sidelines of unauthorized demonstrations. The administrative building of the Basse-Terre hospital was invaded by about forty people.[20]
