In the year 2023, the island of Mayotte is facing an unprecedented migration crisis. “Citizen collectives” were formed to protest against the growing insecurity and illegal immigration plaguing the island. Faced with this tense situation, the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, went there to assess the situation and consider concrete measures.
During his visit, Gérald Darmanin announced a radical decision: the abolition of land rights in Mayotte. This measure, which will be included in a constitutional revision, aims to limit the attractiveness of the island for migrants coming from neighboring Comoros. Indeed, by no longer allowing the automatic acquisition of French nationality in Mayotte, the government hopes to deter migratory flows which endanger the economic and social balance of the island.
This announcement provoked mixed reactions. On the one hand, some welcome this decision as a necessary response to an emergency situation. They emphasize that Mayotte, as a French department, cannot continue to suffer such significant migratory pressure without dramatic consequences. On the other side, voices are being raised to denounce a discriminatory measure, which goes against the principles of equality and solidarity.
In any case, this constitutional revision will have consequences on the daily life of the inhabitants of Mayotte. By abolishing the land tax, the government is also considering the end of the territorialized visa, which prevents holders of a residence permit in Mayotte from traveling to mainland France. This measure aims to limit the phenomenon of “medical tourism”, which consists of going to Mayotte to benefit from the social benefits offered by France.
It is important to emphasize that this decision is not a miracle solution to solve all of Mayotte’s problems. Beyond the migration issue, the island is faced with multiple challenges: economic development, fight against insecurity, improvement of infrastructure, etc. It is therefore essential to take all of these issues into account to propose sustainable solutions.
In conclusion, the visit of the Minister of the Interior to Mayotte and the announcement of the constitutional revision on land law raise many questions. If this measure aims to respond to the migration crisis on the island, it is important to assess the consequences and consider additional actions to ensure the development and security of Mayotte. The situation deserves in-depth reflection and measures adapted to the complex reality of the Mahorais archipelago.