French Prime Minister François Bayrou pledged to deliver tangible aid to Mayotte on Monday, following the devastation caused by Cyclone Chido, which struck the Indian Ocean territory in mid-December. The cyclone, the most destructive to hit France’s poorest department in 90 years, left at least 39 dead and more than 5,600 injured, with fears the toll could rise.
Bayrou, after visiting the affected areas, emphasised the need for concrete action rather than just verbal assurances of solidarity. He unveiled a recovery plan called “Mayotte Standing,” with electricity restoration as a top priority. He promised that by the end of January, every home would have power, supported by additional staff and 200 generators from state-owned EDF.
Despite two weeks of recovery efforts, essential services like water, power, and telecoms remain disrupted. Local workers, such as Ali Mohamed from the main hospital, expressed frustration, stating that the situation should have been resolved by now.
The Prime Minister announced a two-year recovery timeline and plans for a “second phase” of rebuilding. An emergency draft law for reconstruction will be introduced to parliament soon, with longer-term plans to follow.
Bayrou’s recovery plan also aims to address the issue of Mayotte’s large undocumented migrant population, which significantly increased the territory’s population during the cyclone’s aftermath. The government intends to implement a population census and stricter birthright citizenship regulations. Additionally, Bayrou committed to preventing the reconstruction of slums, which were destroyed by the cyclone.
The Prime Minister’s visit included 2.5 tonnes of aid supplies, a visit to a field hospital, and plans to deploy police to protect looted schools.
