France announced on Friday new curfew measures to quell civil unrest on its Caribbean island of Martinique, which violent protests have hit due to anger over rising living costs.

The local French administration for Martinique said it was banning public gatherings until October 14 and banning the purchase of products that could be used for arson attacks.

It added that protests had disrupted flights at Martinique airport and that, as a result, flights were being re-directed to the neighbouring French island of Guadeloupe.

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 and consequential bans on public protests placed by the central government of France on several municipalities.

Also, 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.

Prior to 2024, Martinique was 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-19 restrictions implemented by the French government in November 2021.

(Reuters/NAN)