Guadeloupe has recorded 31 homicides in recent months, with 27 of these incidents involving firearms, according to local reports. While this number is lower than the 45 homicides reported in French Guiana during September, it is higher than the 20 recorded in Martinique. The causes of such violence are frequently linked to narcotics trafficking and disputes between rival gangs. However, some critics suggest that this explanation may serve the interests of those in power, as it portrays the overseas territories as centers for the distribution of illegal goods. The gendarmerie, France's military police force, has reported that nearly 40,000 weapons are believed to be in circulation in Guadeloupe. However, there is no evidence that these weapons have been confiscated or removed from public use. An editorial has questioned why the gendarmerie has not taken action based on this information, suggesting that the claim might be used to justify future acts of violence. The victims of these homicides are predominantly young, unemployed individuals of Afro-descendant heritage who are often described as being "outside the system." Many of them have prior interactions with the prison system and face limited opportunities upon release. The editorial argues that the colonial system benefits from this cycle of violence, as it helps maintain control over the population. The article also references the 1946 departmentalization law, which formally integrated former French colonies into the French Republic as departments, granting the illusion of full citizenship to those who had been colonized. However, the editorial claims that this process did not eliminate the colonial system but rather adapted it, continuing to impose economic and political dependencies on the former colonies. The recent high school strike in Guadeloupe is viewed as a sign that the youth are beginning to recognize the violence inherent in the colonial system. The editorial argues that the system's enforcers have used violence against these young people, leading to a growing awareness of the extreme nature of the colonial system.