2024 Mayotte crisis

{{Short description|2024 crisis in Mayotte, France}}{{Multiple issues|{{copy edit|date=June 2024}}

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In early 2024, a political and economic crisis broke out in the French territory of Mayotte.

Background

Mayotte is the poorest offshore department in France, but is more economically developed compared to Madagascar and Comoros. The economy largely depends on the labor of economic migrants, many of whom are undocumented.{{Cite news |last=Jesuthasan |first=Meerie |date=2023-05-31 |title='Insulted, humiliated, hunted': plight of migrants as slums razed in French territory of Mayotte |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/may/31/insulted-humiliated-hunted-plight-of-migrants-as-slums-razed-in-french-territory-of-mayotte |access-date=2024-02-09 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite news |date=2023-04-13 |title=France's plan to crack down on Indian Ocean migration |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-65193860 |access-date=2024-02-09 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} In 2018, unrest in Mayotte was triggered by protests against the economic crisis and illegal immigrants from the Comoros islands, leading to roadblocks, a general strike, and demonstrations, with locals expressing concerns about the strain on health, housing, and education services due to the influx of migrants.{{Cite news |date=2018-03-17 |title=Mayotte unrest: French island residents round up 'foreigners' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-43443716 |access-date=2024-02-09 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} In 2021, 54 Members of Parliament warned of "impending social chaos" due to severe poverty and illegal immigration.{{Cite web |date=2021-04-01 |title=MPs warn of impending social chaos in French Indian Ocean island of Mayotte |url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20210401-mps-warn-of-impending-social-chaos-in-french-indian-ocean-island-of-mayotte-poverty-violence-illegal-immigration-health-covid |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=RFI |language=en}} In early 2023, the government saught to demolish 1,000 bangas, or makeshift homes, in slums inhabited by 40% of the island's population. Emergency vehicles announced they would not drive at night in December 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-19 |title=Mayotte: Les vèhicules de secours ne rouleront plus la nuit, après l'agression d'un èquipage |url=https://www.cnews.fr/france/2023-12-19/mayotte-les-vehicules-de-secours-ne-rouleront-plus-la-nuit-apres-lagression-dun |website=C News}} Droughts led to water shortages and protests were held.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-12 |title=France's poorest island is parched because of drought and underinvestment |url=https://apnews.com/article/france-mayotte-water-crisis-protests-f079fb9b8f2b4057cd06687bb88d9fb9 |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=AP News |language=en}} This was exacerbated by consistent underinvestment in Mayotte.{{Cite web |author=Gregoire Merot |agency=Associated Press |date=2023-11-13 |title=France's poorest island is parched because of drought and underinvestment |url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2023-11-13/frances-poorest-island-is-parched-because-of-drought-and-underinvestment |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

Operation Wuambushu was launched by the French government{{Cite web |date=2023-05-18 |title=Anti-migration operation on French African island of Mayotte stirs tensions, exposes inequalities |url=https://apnews.com/article/france-migrants-africa-police-operation-mayotte-comoros-4e467c5c09cfb5ef82d9b82fe4c90d70 |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=AP News |language=en}} in order to combat illegal migration in the Indian Ocean.{{Cite news |date=2023-04-13 |title=France's plan to crack down on Indian Ocean migration |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-65193860 |access-date=2024-05-28 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

Events

The President of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, visited Mayotte in January 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-11 |title=Mayotte: Yaël Braun-Pivet, présidente de l'Assemblée nationale française, en visite pour soutenir les élus et la population |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/france/20240111-mayotte-ya%C3%ABl-braun-pivet-pr%C3%A9sidente-de-l-assembl%C3%A9e-nationale-fran%C3%A7aise-en-visite-pour-soutenir-les-%C3%A9lus-et-la-population |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=RFI |language=fr}} Police operations were conducted.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-13 |title=Mayotte: après la fin de l'opération Wuambushu, les difficultés demeurent, les moyens manquent toujours |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/france/20240113-mayotte-apr%C3%A8s-la-fin-de-l-op%C3%A9ration-wuambushu-les-difficult%C3%A9s-demeurent-les-moyens-manquent-toujours |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=RFI |language=fr}} A fortnight of protests broke out.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-04 |title=En proie à l'insécurité, paralysée par les barrages, Mayotte interpelle l'État |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/en-proie-a-l-insecurite-paralysee-par-les-barrages-mayotte-interpelle-l-etat-20240204 |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Le Figaro |language=fr}} Roads were blocked disrupting the economy and causing food shortages.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-07 |title=Blocages à Mayotte: une partie de la population manifeste avec virulence |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/france/20240207-blocages-%C3%A0-mayotte-une-partie-de-la-population-manifeste-avec-virulence |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=RFI |language=fr}} Violence and curfews were reported.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-09|title=Violences à Mayotte: "On préfère rester chez nous à partir de 18h", se désespère cet habitant |url=https://www.cnews.fr/france/2024-02-09/violences-mayotte-prefere-rester-chez-nous-partir-de-18h-se-desespere-cet-habitant |website=C News}}

The Minister of the Interior and Overseas, Gérald Darmanin, visited the island and announced that the automatic right to French citizenship by virtue of birth on Mayotte is to be restricted; such a measure is widely supported by the population of Mayotte in order to discourage illegal immigration.{{Cite news |date=2024-02-15 |title=French citizenship row engulfs Indian Ocean island of Mayotte |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68292604 |access-date=2024-02-26 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

In April 2024, Marine Le Pen visited Mayotte.{{Cite web |last=FJ |date=2024-04-22 |title=Marine Le Pen en visite à Mayotte, elle s'affiche en tenue traditionnelle (vidéo) |url=https://www.letribunaldunet.fr/videos/marine-le-pen-en-visite-a-mayotte-elle-saffiche-en-tenue-traditionnelle-video.html |access-date=2024-05-04 |website=TDN - Tribunal Du Net |language=fr}}

On 16 April 2024, Overseas Minister Marie Guevenoux announced the start of an Operation Wuambushu 2, with the objective once again of “fighting unsanitary housing, illegal immigration and finding gang leaders", this time with a goal of arresting "60 gang leaders who were targeted" and destroying "1,300 bangas, twice as many as last year".{{Cite web |language=fr |author=AFP |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/outre-mer/article/2024/04/16/a-mayotte-le-gouvernement-lance-une-deuxieme-operation-pour-lutter-contre-l-immigration-irreguliere-et-l-habitat-illegal_6228099_1840826.html |title=A Mayotte, le gouvernement lance une deuxième opération "Wuambushu" contre la délinquance et l'immigration irrégulière |date=16 April 2024 |website=Le Monde}}

In the 2024 French legislative election, the National Rally had a breakthrough with Anchya Bamana winning Mayotte's 2nd constituency.{{Cite web |date=7 July 2024 |title=Résultats des législatives 2024 à Mayotte et à la Réunion : le RN envoie ses deux premiers députés ultramarins à l'Assemblée nationale |url=https://www.liberation.fr/politique/elections/resultats-des-legislatives-2024-a-mayotte-et-a-la-reunion-le-rn-envoie-ses-deux-premiers-deputes-ultramarins-a-lassemblee-nationale-20240707_D6KOJBXY6FAI7PZMNV25YNVSOI/ |access-date=8 July 2024 |website=Libération |language=fr}}