A year after the first operation “Wuambushu” launched by the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, in Mayotte, the Minister Delegate in charge of Overseas Territories, Marie Guevenoux, announced on Tuesday, April 16, the launch of a new action on the island called “place nette” (clean sweep). This operation is a reference to the “place nette XXL” operations launched in mainland France to combat drug trafficking. The goal of this new operation is to address issues such as unsanitary living conditions, illegal immigration, and to target gang leaders. Over 1,700 police officers, gendarmes, and soldiers will participate in this eleven-week operation. The previous operation had resulted in the destruction of 700 huts and the arrest of 60 individuals.
Despite the efforts of the previous operation, the situation on the island remains tense with incidents such as stone-throwing at school buses and clashes between rival gangs escalating. In response to these challenges, the new operation aims to target 60 gang leaders and demolish 1,300 huts, twice as many as the previous year. This operation comes at a time when citizen collectives have organized protests against insecurity and illegal immigration by blocking roads on the island. The dismantling of a migrant camp in March did not fully alleviate the anger and frustration among island residents.
In addition to the security operations led by the Ministry of the Interior, there is a government initiative to eliminate birthright citizenship in Mayotte. Currently, children born in Mayotte to undocumented parents can acquire French nationality at the age of 13, which then allows their parents to obtain residence permits. The government aims to end this practice in order to reduce the attractiveness of residence permits and to send a clear message to countries in the region. However, implementing this change would require a constitutional revision, which may face challenges due to the lack of an absolute majority in the National Assembly.
The decision to address issues of unsanitary living conditions, illegal immigration, and gang activity on Mayotte is crucial in maintaining law and order on the island. The government’s commitment to combatting these challenges through coordinated security operations and policy changes demonstrates their dedication to addressing the concerns of residents in Mayotte. By taking decisive action, the government aims to improve the security and living conditions of the population while also sending a clear message to those involved in criminal activities. As the new operation unfolds, it will be important to monitor its impact and effectiveness in addressing the complex issues facing Mayotte.
