In brief
Following Cyclone Chido, which devastated parts of Mayotte, local inhabitants have intensified calls for the deportation of undocumented immigrants, particularly those from Comoros, underscoring deep-seated tensions surrounding immigration issues on the island.
In the wake of Cyclone Chido's destructive path on December 14, the French territory of Mayotte has been thrust into a heated debate on immigration and local socio-economic conditions. The cyclone particularly impacted slum areas heavily populated by undocumented immigrants, mainly from the nearby Comoros islands. Amid the crisis, advocacy leaders, such as Safina Soula, have publicly supported the French government's previous initiatives aimed at dismantling these slums and expelling undocumented residents.Soula referred to the cyclone as a “divine Wuambushu,” a direct nod to the state-backed operation designed to clear out these slum settlements. Post-cyclone reports indicate that around one-third of Mayotte's 320,000 residents are undocumented immigrants, a statistic that has sparked fervent calls for the French government to heighten deportation measures.This situation has been further exacerbated by longstanding frustrations among Mayotte's locals—known as Mahorais—who have often attributed crime rates and the island’s poverty struggles to the influx of immigrants. With approximately 80% of Mayotte's population living under the poverty line, these sentiments reveal how immigration intensifies the already strained resources on the island.Historically, despite a shared ancestry with the Comoros, Mayotte opted to remain with France following a pivotal referendum in 1974, setting this archipelago apart from its neighbors. As the recovery process begins after Cyclone Chido, the looming challenge of addressing immigration remains critically intertwined with the future socio-economic stability of Mayotte.
