The government still intends to destroy "1,000 huts identified" as substandard housing in Mayotte. The prefect of this French department of the Indian Ocean said that the operation would take place in the coming months, during a visit to the Cavani district, in Mamoudzou, this Friday.

Since April, the French authorities have deployed numerous security forces in Mayotte to prepare and carry out a series of police interventions grouped under the name Wuambushu ("recovery" in Mahorais). This operation, almost at a standstill for nearly a month, aims to dislodge irregular migrants, mostly from neighboring Comoros, from the unsanitary slums of the poorest department of France.

Sheet metal huts deemed unsanitary

During a visit open to the press early this Friday in Cavani (northeast), the prefect, Thierry Suquet, reaffirmed his firm will to "fight against unhealthy housing". "People are living in unbearable conditions, they are putting their lives at risk," he insisted. About fifteen agents of the Regional Health Agency, the prefecture and social workers were present at his side to identify the sheet metal huts to be demolished.

In Cavani, "we had identified 90 by aerial view, but we have already counted 10 more," said Psylvia Dewas, in charge of the resorption of substandard housing at the prefecture. "Social workers will then come back to carry out social surveys with the aim of proposing alternative housing solutions to families," she said. According to the prefect, of the 1,000 homes identified for demolition in Mayotte, "300 have already been the subject of social surveys".

"And now, where are we going to go?"

People in a regular situation will be offered "a relocation solution as and when". But, he warned, "the principle of demolition is never questioned, even if the families refuse the proposals". "We didn't know they were going to destroy our houses," said Nadjim Rouzounati, a mother of three, in front of the number "62" that has just been spray-painted on her neighbour's square in Cavani.

This legal woman says she has lived here for almost thirty years. "And now, where are we going to go?" worries the one who has not yet received a relocation proposal. The demolition of the Cavani slum should take place "in two to four months", according to the prefect.

The Talus 2 district in focus

With this district, eight perimeters to be demolished have been defined by order by the prefecture. "And in a few weeks, eight other perimeter orders will be taken, to cover a total of 1,000 boxes," said Thierry Suquet. After the filing of an order, a deadline of five weeks must be respected before demolition, in accordance with the Elan Housing Act of 2018.

The first slum to be demolished as part of Operation Wuambushu is the Talus 2 neighborhood in Koungou, north of Mamoudzou. Its destruction, scheduled for April 25, had been suspended the day before by the judge of the administrative court. But two court decisions, taken by the administrative court on May 13 and then by the appeals chamber on Wednesday, have since ruled in favour of the state and paved the way for the "shifting" - destruction of sheet metal huts - of Talus 2, one of the largest slums on the island. The excavators are expected "very quickly", according to the prefect.

  • Society
  • Mayotte
  • Comoros
  • Slum
  • Illegal immigration