Comoros accuses France of ‘colonial occupation’ of Mayotte “Intolerable hypocrisy”

Comoros has condemned remarks by French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu suggesting that development aid could be made conditional on cooperation to curb irregular migration to Mayotte, Le Monde reports.

Comorian Foreign Minister Mohamed Mbae described Lecornu's comments as “unbearably condescending”, saying they were surprising and out of context with the expectations of the population of Mayotte.

Lecornu made the remarks during a two-day visit to Mayotte, a French overseas department in the Indian Ocean. He said development aid to Comoros and six other African countries could be linked to their ability to take back undocumented migrants and their participation in efforts to combat people-smuggling.

The seven countries targeted by France are Comoros, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania and Kenya.

France has been seeking to curb migration to Mayotte, where migrants travel in search of better economic opportunities.

Comoros disputes French sovereignty over Mayotte and considers the island part of its territory. Mayotte remained under French control when the rest of the Comoros archipelago gained independence in 1975.

Lecornu's comments have also drawn criticism in Mayotte. Opposition party Ushe described the policy as “appalling blackmail”, while civil society group Comité Maore called it “unacceptable blackmail” and accused France of pursuing a neo-colonial approach.

By Aghakazim Guliyev