Martinique airport closure highlights deepening unrest

The international airport in Martinique was closed on Thursday evening due to a group of about a dozen people entering its grounds. The cause of the disturbance is the ongoing social unrest on the island since September. Planes carrying about 1,000 passengers were redirected to land in neighbouring Guadeloupe.

A dozen or so people entered the airport grounds when rumours emerged that a plane carrying additional police forces to support local forces would land there. As a result of this incident, the authorities decided to close the airport and reimpose the curfew. On Friday, schools will be closed, and a ban on gatherings is in effect until October 14.

Social unrest has been ongoing there since September, starting with protests over social issues. Martinique is an overseas department of France. Demonstrations have turned into nighttime riots, including acts of violence such as looting stores, arson, and vandalizing cars.

Martinique has experienced similar protests in the past, aimed at expressing anger related to economic, ethnic, and social inequalities. According to data from the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee) for 2023, food prices on the island, with a population of about 350,000 residents, are 40% higher than in metropolitan France.