2024 Mayotte crisis

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

Background


Mayotte is the poorest department in France. Despite this, Mayotte is wealthy compared to Madagascar and Comoros, and economic migrants have come to Mayotte in search for work. In 2018, illegal immigrants were rounded up by police which led to unrest. In 2021, 54 Members of Parliament warned of "impending social chaos" due to severe poverty and illegal immigration. In early 2023, slums were razed. Emergency vehicles announced they would not drive at night in December 2023. Droughts led to water shortages and protests were held. Mayotte has been suffering from underinvestment.

Operation Wuambushu was launched by the French government. This was to combat illegal migration in the Indian Ocean.

Events
The President of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, visited Mayotte in January 2024. Police operations were conducted. A fortnight of protests broke out. Roads were blocked disrupting the economy and causing food shortages. Violence and curfews were reported.

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.

In April 2024, Marine Le Pen visited Mayotte.

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".

In the 2024 French legislative election, the National Rally had a breakthrough with Anchya Bamana winning Mayotte's 2nd constituency.