Zaïna Méresse

Zaïna Meresse, born Boinali on June 18, 1935, in Bandrele and died on April 11, 2014, in Mamoudzou, was a Mahorese activist and politician.

She was one of the leaders of the Mahorese Chatouilleuses who claimed Mayotte for France. She then sat on the general council of Mayotte.

Biography
Zaïna Méresse, was born on June 18, 1935, in Bandrélé on the island of Grande-Terre, in Mayotte.

She got involved in the 1960s so that Mayotte would remain French during the independence of the Comoros. With them, other women, such as Coco Djoumoi and Boueni M'Titi, decided to carry out commando actions against the authorities, coming from Grande Comore, by resorting to an original means of action to push them back. They are then called the Chatouilleuses, of which Zaïna Meresse is "one of the historical combatants". Being married to a metropolitan, she spoke French, unlike the other activists, which enabled her to write letters to the authorities, and also to grant numerous interviews to relate her experience within the movement, contributing to  publicize it.

She subsequently committed to the Departmental Council of Mayotte.

Awards and nominations

 * 1978 : Ordre national du Merite Chevalier ribbon.svg Knight of Ordre national du Mérite
 * 1994 : Ordre national du Merite Officier ribbon.svg OfficerOrdre national du Mérite
 * 2004 : Legion Honneur Chevalier ribbon.svg Knight of Legion of Honour
 * 2013 : Legion Honneur Officier ribbon.svg Officer Legion of Honour