France is contending with growing calls for independence from its overseas collectivities, remnants of its colonial era. These territories account for 18% of French territory and have a population of 2.6 million people.
French overseas territories, each with distinct political statuses, include Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthélemy, and Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean; Reunion, Mayotte, and the French Southern and Antarctic Territories in the Indian Ocean; French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and Wallis and Futuna in the Pacific Ocean; and French Guiana in South America.
These twelve colonies are geographically distant from mainland France, with the nearest being about 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles) away and the farthest around 17,000 kilometers.
They suffer from significant disparities in living standards compared to the mainland.
These territories face various socioeconomic challenges and are increasingly voicing dissatisfaction with the infrastructure and security services provided by the French administration. Consequently, they are demanding greater autonomy and independence.
The concerns of Indigenous rights advocates in these French territories and the issues they face have been highlighted by recent events in New Caledonia, where independence supporters staged protests that were forcibly suppressed by French authorities.
In New Caledonia, located about 17,000 kilometers from mainland France, independence supporters have been mobilized in response to the French government’s constitutional reform initiative, which aims to reduce the electoral influence of the indigenous population.
The French government’s proposal to allow French citizens who have lived on the island for at least 10 years to vote in elections, in contradiction to the Noumea Treaty signed with local residents in 1988, sparked protests.
To suppress the month-long demonstrations, the French government deployed police and gendarmerie to the island. The clashes resulted in seven deaths.
A state of emergency, declared on May 13, was lifted on May 27 once the situation in the capital, Noumea, was under control.
During his visit to the island, French President Emmanuel Macron did not withdraw the constitutional reform bill but called for dialogue between supporters and opponents of the reform.
French Guiana’s Struggles with Security and Autonomy
French Guiana’s Struggles with Security and Autonomy
High poverty and unemployment rates plague French Guiana, and residents frequently express frustration with the French government’s inadequate investment in infrastructure and healthcare. Nearly 40% of the young population leaves the colony for education or work abroad.
Locals are also discontent with the perceived double standards in President Emmanuel Macron’s promises of autonomy.
While Macron has pledged more autonomy for Corsica, which is only 160 kilometers from France, similar steps have not been taken for French Guiana.
Gabriel Serville, Speaker of the Parliament of French Guiana, criticized this inconsistency, highlighting the emphasis on Corsica’s cultural diversity compared to the neglect of French Guiana’s needs.
In 2020, the Congress of French Guiana voted to request greater autonomy under special status. Despite this demand, nearly four years have passed with no significant progress in negotiations with the Paris administration regarding constitutional changes.
Autonomy Demands Surge in Guadeloupe and Martinique Following COVID-19 Protests
Guadeloupe, a Caribbean island with a population of 400,000, is grappling with security challenges as crime rates soar to six times the national average and armed robbery rates are 20 times higher. The involvement of young people in these crimes led to the imposition of a curfew in April for those under 18 in Pointe-à-Pitre, the island’s commercial capital.
Intense protests erupted in Guadeloupe over lockdown measures implemented by the French government during the coronavirus pandemic. These protests spread to Martinique and other colonies, prompting France to send security forces to the region.
In a bid to secure greater autonomy, Martinique’s Executive Council President Serge Letchimy sought backing from regional partners.
November saw the Congress of Martinique vote in favour of adding an article to the French Constitution that would allow laws to be adapted to the island’s unique social and economic circumstances while maintaining ties with France.
Mayotte, an Indian Ocean territory located about 8,000 kilometers from mainland France, has faced escalating security problems in recent years.
Additionally, the island, home to 310,000 residents, is grappling with the “worst drought of the century,” leading to a severe drinking water crisis.
In response, the French government established 82 water supply points in November and began distributing water with the help of soldiers.
The island has also seen a significant influx of immigrants, prompting the government to propose constitutional changes aimed at restricting “citizenship acquired by birth.”
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced in February that children of immigrants born on Mayotte would no longer automatically receive French citizenship; instead, they must have French parents to qualify.
This citizenship restriction targets immigrants from the Comoro Islands, who are often blamed for deteriorating living conditions on Mayotte.
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