Authorities take over some Martinique fuel stations amid protests | Al Jazeera

French authorities have announced they are taking control of some fuel stations on the Caribbean island territory of Martinique because of concerns over fuel supplies following days of protests against measures to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Residents angry over the management of the pandemic – and specifically over vaccination requirements for health workers – have in recent days set up burning barricades and in some cases exchanged gunfire with police.

The vaccine mandate also applies to health workers in mainland France, but it has touched a nerve among the majority Black population in Martinique and the neighbouring island of Guadaloupe.