Barely started, the operation "Wuambushu" is already blocking. Justice has suspended the evacuation planned Tuesday of a slum in Mayotte, in the Indian Ocean, as part of this vast action of the French authorities launched in the name of the fight against delinquency and unhealthy housing.

In addition to this judicial setback, the French state is facing a diplomatic setback. The Comoros refused, Monday, the docking of a ship carrying sixty people from Mayotte. As early as April 10, the Comorian presidency had called on the France to "renounce" the operation.

Relations between the two countries have never been easy. Geographically part of the Comorian archipelago, Mayotte separated from the Comoros in 1974, following a referendum in which the other three islands gained independence. Since then, the Comoros has not recognized Mayotte's membership in the France.

Analysis of the situation with Nathalie Mrgudovic, lecturer at Aston University, England, and specialist in French overseas territories.

France 24: Why are relations between France and the Comoros particularly sensitive?

Nathalie Mrgudovic: Despite the diplomatic efforts between the two countries under the mandates of François Hollande and Emmanuel Macron, there is a real double discourse on the part of the Comoros. During the talks in 2019, the Comorian authorities notably committed to cooperate with Paris to better control illegal immigration to Mayotte, in exchange for development aid of 150 million euros. But in reality, nothing is being done to limit this phenomenon. In addition, Comorian President Azali Assoumani said that "the Comorians who are in Mayotte are at home". This is also part of the double discourse, because the Comoros has always prevented Mayotte's regional integration into regional bodies, such as the Indian Ocean Commission, which includes Reunion for France, or Madagascar and Mauritius.

The explanation dates back to 1974, during the referendum that the Comoros declared illegal. At that time, the archipelago had the status of Overseas Territory, endowed with a right of self-determination. Of the four islands, three are overwhelmingly in favour of independence. But not Mayotte, which has always claimed to belong to the France. The island then claimed the status of department in order to obtain a standard of living similar to what the Mahorais could observe in Reunion. She finally got it in 2011.

Can we imagine an appeasement between the two countries?

If the international community and the neighbouring countries of the Indian Ocean had a more categorical position towards the Comoros which does not recognize Mayotte's membership of the France, perhaps. The international community is a little interested in the subject, but it does not go far enough in my opinion. The Comoros are rarely contradicted when they denounce the France's stranglehold on Mayotte. This opinion was even shared for several decades by the United Nations, which recalled the "territorial integrity" of the archipelago.

On the other hand, I am quite surprised that Mauritius, Madagascar or Seychelles do not support the France on this subject more. They remain quite discreet. However, the region would have little to gain from seeing Mayotte fall back into the Comorian fold. Mayotte would lose not only its status as an outermost region (OR) and therefore a significant number of European subsidies and aid, but also French financial support. Today, the Comorian position is essentially political, which crystallizes tensions.

What do the tensions reveal since the announcement of Operation Wuambushu?

This is further proof that illegal immigration remains a point of tension between France and the Comoros. Today, the French state wants to try to curb the arrival of migrants, especially Comorians, by tightening the attribution of French nationality to Mayotte. For a child to acquire this right, one of his parents must have resided on the island for at least one year without interruption, against three months today, according to the will of Gérald Darmanin.

In my opinion, Operation Wuambushu is quite worrying. The deportation policy is not what works. Those deported to the Comoros will return to Mayotte in a few months, or even weeks, the time for them to make money. Meanwhile, the children, minors, are left to fend for themselves with neighbors or cousins. These young people do not go to school. Brawls between rival gangs are multiplying. Violence is exercised between them, but also against populations considered to be richer. It became the wild west. The priority must not lie in expulsions but in the integration of these young people left to fend for themselves. As long as there is no real policy of integration, training and education of these young people, the problem of illegal immigration from the Comoros to Mayotte will be turned upside down.

To see Mayotte: the island of the "under France"?

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