Following Cyclone Chido's devastating impact in Mayotte, advocacy groups push for stricter immigration control and deportations of undocumented migrants, reigniting historical grievances among locals.
Cyclone Chido Unleashes Immigration Tensions in Mayotte
Cyclone Chido Unleashes Immigration Tensions in Mayotte
The recent cyclone has heightened local sentiments against undocumented immigrants in Mayotte, sparking calls for their deportation.
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In the aftermath of Cyclone Chido's destruction on Dec. 14, stakeholders in Mayotte are vocalizing heightened resentment towards undocumented immigrants, particularly those who have settled on the French-owned archipelago from nearby Comoros. Local leaders, like Safina Soula, have dubbed the cyclone a "divine Wuambushu," referring to an initiative that began last year aimed at demolishing slums occupied by undocumented immigrants and expediting their deportation.
The cyclone, which resulted in at least 39 fatalities, has intensified longstanding tensions regarding immigration, as nearly 30% of Mayotte’s 320,000 inhabitants lack legal residency. Many residents also link the presence of these immigrants to crime and resource depletion, further complicating the island's socio-economic fabric, where poverty levels soar at 80%.
Historically, the relationship between Mayotte and neighboring Comoros has been complex; despite shared ancestry, a critical referendum in 1974 saw Mayotte choose to remain part of France. Locals now call for decisive governmental action to avoid reconstructing the devastated makeshift homes, exacerbating the effects of the cyclone on an already strained humanitarian landscape.
In the aftermath of Cyclone Chido's destruction on Dec. 14, stakeholders in Mayotte are vocalizing heightened resentment towards undocumented immigrants, particularly those who have settled on the French-owned archipelago from nearby Comoros. Local leaders, like Safina Soula, have dubbed the cyclone a "divine Wuambushu," referring to an initiative that began last year aimed at demolishing slums occupied by undocumented immigrants and expediting their deportation.
The cyclone, which resulted in at least 39 fatalities, has intensified longstanding tensions regarding immigration, as nearly 30% of Mayotte’s 320,000 inhabitants lack legal residency. Many residents also link the presence of these immigrants to crime and resource depletion, further complicating the island's socio-economic fabric, where poverty levels soar at 80%.
Historically, the relationship between Mayotte and neighboring Comoros has been complex; despite shared ancestry, a critical referendum in 1974 saw Mayotte choose to remain part of France. Locals now call for decisive governmental action to avoid reconstructing the devastated makeshift homes, exacerbating the effects of the cyclone on an already strained humanitarian landscape.
