Macron’s Visit to Mayotte: “Be Grateful You Are Part of France!”

A Tragedy Overshadowed by Colonial Arrogance

On December 14, Cyclone Chido struck in the Indian Ocean, devastating Mayotte—France’s poorest overseas territory, or rather, its colony. The cyclone claimed many lives and destroyed the island’s fragile infrastructure. More than two weeks later, the actual death toll remains unclear. French authorities insist that only 31 people died, seemingly downplaying the scale of the disaster. But given the large number of undocumented migrants living on the island and the hasty burials, many estimate that the cyclone claimed thousands of lives.

Mayotte is one of France’s overseas possessions—lands that Paris remembers only when disaster strikes or unrest breaks out.

French President Emmanuel Macron visited the cyclone-hit island, but his arrival was met with anger. Confronted by a crowd that loudly booed him, accused the government of failing to respond to the crisis, and demanded his resignation, Macron retorted: “I am not the cyclone! I am not responsible!” He went further, scolding the islanders:
“Be happy to be in France, because if it wasn’t France you’d be 10,000 times even more in the s***. There is no other place in the Indian Ocean where we help people this much.”

On an island where healthcare is already extremely weak, the injured could not be treated, residents went days without clean water, and aid only arrived long after the cyclone. Instead of empathy, Macron chose to lecture them, reducing their suffering to a reminder of their supposed fortune in being French.

His words revealed the colonial arrogance that continues to define France’s relationship with Mayotte: France remains the master, not the caretaker.

 

The Reality Behind Macron’s Words

Contrary to Macron’s claims, Mayotte has long been neglected by France. The island lacks access to even the most basic services such as water and electricity. French aid policies do not provide real solutions, only temporary patches.

Official data paints a stark picture:

• A majority of Mayotte’s population lives below the poverty line.
• Of the island’s 320,000 registered inhabitants, about 40% survive on less than €200 a month, while France’s minimum wage is around €1,400.
• Four out of ten homes are built from flimsy materials such as plywood and metal sheets.
• Three out of ten lack running water.
• In 2022, Mayotte’s unemployment rate was 34%.

Despite these dire conditions, the island continues to attract migrants, particularly from neighboring Comoros, since Mayotte was incorporated into the European Union in 2014. Many of these migrants are undocumented, making up nearly half—or possibly more—of the island’s population.

 

How Mayotte Became French

Mayotte shares the same geopolitical fate as other French overseas territories: Réunion near Mauritius, Martinique in the Caribbean, Guadeloupe in the Atlantic, and French Guiana in South America. These territories, all far from France’s natural borders, are still governed as French departments.

Geographically, Mayotte is part of the Comoros archipelago, which consists of three main islands—Anjouan, Mohéli (Mwali), and Grande Comore (Ngazidja)—plus Mayotte as the fourth. France colonized and exploited the islands for many years, fueling divisions among their people. Following the principle of “divide and rule,” Paris held several separate referendums for each island.

On January 1, 1976, three of the four islands voted for independence, forming the Union of the Comoros. But Mayotte—where 65% voted to remain under French rule—stayed with France. Despite objections from the United Nations, France invoked the referendum to declare Mayotte its own territory. In 2014, the island became the EU’s outermost region.

Since then, however, France has done little to improve life on the island. Instead of addressing migration by supporting the Comoros, France stokes hostility between the Mahorais (native Mayotte islanders) and Comorian migrants.

 

Colonial Seeds of Division

The Mahorais, shaped by decades of French colonial propaganda, often take pride in their Frenchness. By contrast, Comorian migrants—accused of lowering living standards—are increasingly rejected by locals, who demand their expulsion.

Thus, the seeds of division sown by French colonialism continue to bear fruit, setting communities of the same religion and ethnicity against one another.

And yet, in the wake of the cyclone, tragedy has momentarily bridged the divide. Mahorais and Comorians, once at odds, have begun to find common ground in shared suffering.

 

Beyond a Natural Disaster

The disaster in Mayotte is more than a natural catastrophe—it exposes France’s neglect and the persistence of its colonial mindset. Paris claims the island for strategic purposes, while dismissing the daily struggles of its people with cold indifference.

The people of Mayotte are beginning to see France’s true intentions more clearly. This tragedy could mark a turning point. Instead of accepting the role of “second-class French citizens,” Mahorais may choose to reclaim their roots and pursue independence.

As France’s influence across Africa steadily declines, Mayotte’s people have an opportunity to learn from the experience of other former French colonies—many of whom chose dignity over dependence. This disaster, if rightly understood, could become the spark that sets Mayotte on a path toward self-determination.

 Sources:

 https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/mayotte--a-remnant-from-the-french-colonialism-of-arab-land

This article was originally published in Independent Türkçe, on January 6,2024.