Title: The visit of Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne to Mayotte: a strong commitment to the challenges of the archipelago
Introduction :
Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne visited Mayotte on December 8, 2023, accompanied by the Ministers of Health Aurélien Rousseau and Overseas Ministers Philippe Vigier. This visit comes at a crucial time for the archipelago, which faces many challenges such as insecurity, drought and migratory pressure from neighboring Comoros. The objective of this visit was to put in place concrete measures to address these issues and support the Mahorese population.
Security and fight against illegal immigration:
One of the major challenges facing Mayotte is insecurity. The Prime Minister is committed to setting up “strike” operations to restore security to the archipelago. She also confirmed the establishment of a second “Shikandra” plan to combat illegal immigration. This plan will benefit from more resources, in particular modernized maritime surveillance radars in 2027. The objective is to strengthen the fight against illegal crossings from the Comoros and to ensure the security of the Mayott population.
Drought: a major challenge:
Mayotte is facing a severe drought, made worse by a lack of infrastructure and investment. The Prime Minister and her team became aware of the scale of this crisis during their visit to the island. Emergency measures were taken, such as distributing bottled water and covering residents’ water bills. The Prime Minister promised to continue these actions for as long as necessary and announced the expansion of a desalination plant to increase the production of drinking water. Efforts will also be made to improve the island’s water infrastructure.
Socio-economic challenges to be met:
In addition to insecurity and drought, Mayotte is faced with other socio-economic problems. A third of foreigners living in Mayotte were born on the island, but half of the population does not have French nationality, according to INSEE. Unsanitary housing is also a reality for nearly 30% of housing. The Prime Minister is committed to strengthening the fight against illegal immigration and to offering “dignified” housing to people in a legal situation. In addition, efforts will be made to modernize the Mayotte hospital, which faces a shortage of hospital practitioners and security problems in healthcare establishments.
Conclusion :
The visit of Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne to Mayotte demonstrates the French government’s commitment to supporting the archipelago in the face of its socio-economic challenges. Water shortage, insecurity and migratory pressure are urgent problems for which it is essential to find lasting solutions. Implementing concrete measures and strengthening the fight against illegal immigration are important first steps to improving the situation in Mayotte. It now remains to monitor the implementation of these measures and ensure that they meet the real needs of the Mahorese population.