Charles Luylier (special correspondent to Mamoudzou) / Photo credits: PATRICK MEINHARDT / AFP 9:11 a.m., February 12, 2024
The 101st French department has been paralyzed since January 22 by blockades and roadblocks installed by “citizen collectives” protesting against insecurity and uncontrolled immigration. Traveling to Mayotte on Sunday, Gérald Darmanin tried to appease anger by announcing the end of ground law.
Despite the announcement of a constitutional revision to remove land rights on the Indian Ocean island, faced with a serious migration crisis, Gérald Darmanin has not succeeded in calming the discontent in Mayotte. The blockades and roadblocks put in place by “citizen collectives” for three weeks against insecurity and uncontrolled immigration continue. And for the moment, it is out of the question to lift them without written guarantees.
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“We are completely helpless”
On Sunday, passengers who had landed on Petite-Terre Island were stranded for hours. The barge was only able to dock after dark in front of hundreds of travelers, suitcases in hand. The roadblockers prioritized women and healthcare workers. Manon was able to go up at the last minute, but at the cost of a nightmarish day. Accompanying a class returning from a trip to the Vercors, she had to manage the schoolchildren at arm's length all day. "We made the 11-hour night flight, we got stuck here. No water, no toilets, managing the 24 students was super complicated... The children stayed almost 10 hours a day. empty stomach to wait. We are completely helpless, that's clear," she reports to Europe 1.
A wait also complicated for Sidi, 70 years old, in fragile health. “We stayed at the base until 7 p.m. It’s a long time. We’re tired of the roadblocks,” she says.
“There may be drama”
On several of these roadblocks, nails are on the ground to dissuade the most adventurous motorists. The roadblocks agree to let healthcare workers pass, but conditions have gotten tougher since Sunday. Nurses, doctors, midwives, everyone must show their credentials to pass. "If the nurse shows his card, we let him pass. But we have noticed that nurses give their card to friends. This time, they will bring their schedule! We will check their nursing card and the photo !” throws this Mahoraise on the block.
Except that showing your schedule, your professional card, takes time. This liberal nurse, met by Europe 1, is on the road all day. He says, “that’s not all he has to do”, especially when he has emergencies. “There are people that we absolutely must see morning, noon and evening. In certain roadblocks, there is chaos, it wastes time and there can be drama,” he slips. Dramas which for the moment have been avoided, but the caregivers are impatiently awaiting Wednesday since the barriers should be lifted at that time.