This operation aims to fight against delinquency and illegal immigration in the 101st French department, not without arousing concern among associations for the defense of human rights.
Initially unveiled in February in the columns of the chained duck, the Wuambushu operation, which can mean “recovery” as “itchy hair” in Mahorais, must be deployed in the coming days in Mayotte. The goal? Fight against delinquency and illegal immigration, through mass expulsions of foreigners in an irregular situation, but also by destroying slums.
In an interview published in Le Figaro Thursday, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin spoke publicly on the subject for the first time, saying that the operation had “already begun”. But the stated objectives do not go without worrying the associations for the defense of human rights.
• An operation for what purposes?
Wuambushu aims to fight against delinquency and illegal immigration in Mayotte, in particular by carrying out mass expulsions of foreigners in an irregular situation and by destroying the slums where they reside.
In Le FigaroGérald Darmanin indicated that the government was concentrating “on arms control, with actions being carried out at this very moment, in order to restore lasting public and republican peace in Mayotte”.
First revealed in the press in February, Wuambushu was, according to AFP, validated by Emmanuel Macron in the Defense Council, before his Minister of the Interior spoke publicly on the subject on Thursday. But while Gérald Darmanin was expected to reveal a launch date for the operation, he insisted on maintaining the vagueness, simply specifying that it was part of the “long course”.
“Public order operations in Mayotte are every day”, he swept in Le Figaro.
On franceinfoGérald Darmanin specified that the police were going to destroy 1000 slums, “by court decision”, while assuring that the inhabitants who will not be evicted would be relocated “in real housing”.
Because as the advance The worldthe Wuambushu operation should make it possible to expel from Mayotte 300 foreigners in an irregular situation per day, against 70 in normal times.
• Metropolitan police sent to Mayotte?
To achieve the objectives desired by Beauvau, the police forces deployed are substantial. 1,800 police and gendarmes are currently present in Mayotte, “who carry out police operations, which put an end to arms trafficking, which put an end to criminal gangs”, declared Gérald Darmanin.
Among the new resources dispatched to the island, the minister also mentioned four mobile gendarmerie squadrons, police officers from the CRS 8, “specialists in the fight against urban violence”, for a total of “510 members of the the order”.
On the Justice side, Minister Éric Dupond-Moretti sent six magistrates, seven court clerks and 15 judicial youth protection officers to Mayotte. A source familiar with the matter revealed to AFP that a total of 2,500 state personnel have been deployed on the island, whether they are police, gendarmes, attached to the Ministry of Justice or that of Health. .
• What is the situation in Mayotte?
Mayotte, 101st French department since 2011, is facing a serious migration crisis, attracting thousands of people wishing to reach French territory. The latter arrive from the neighboring Comoros, from the countries of Africa’s Great Lakes but also from Madagascar.
Their crossing is dangerous, aboard “kwassa kwassa”, makeshift boats. According INSEE, of the estimated 350,000 inhabitants of Mayotte, half do not have French nationality, even if a third of them were born on the island. It is a population aimed at great insalubrity, in neighborhoods called “bangas”.
On RTL, UDI MP for Mayotte Estelle Youssouffa pointed out that Mayotte is home to “the largest slum in Europe”. Similarly, 77% of the population lives below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate is 30%.
And on an island experiencing a glaring lack of infrastructure and chronic underinvestment, tensions are emerging with the locals. Some residents have thus formed militias to carry out “decasing” operations.
Delinquency on the island is also without common measure compared to the metropolis. In November, clashes between rival gangs shook the island, blocking roads and leading to riots. The state had sent a Raid unit to the scene. Insee in 2021 had pointed to “exceptional delinquency”.
• Have the Comoros been consulted?
To send back to the Comoros its inhabitants who have decided to flee, an agreement must be reached between Paris and Moroni. As reported The worldthe Wuambushu operation has become a subject of national politics in the country.
The Presidency of the Republic of the Comoros shared a statement on April 10 leaving little doubt about the position of the archipelago regarding the operation defended by Gérald Darmanin: “This operation goes against respect for human rights and risks undermine the good relations that unite the two countries”.
Reached by AFP, Comoros government spokesman Houmed Msaidie reiterated this position on Friday, declaring that “The Comoros do not intend to welcome expellees from the operation planned by the French government in Mayotte”.
And Comorian President Azali Assoumani said he hoped the operation would be “cancelled”, while acknowledging “not having the means to stop (it) by force”.
• What are the criticisms voiced by human rights associations?
Faced with the stated objective of expelling tens of thousands of precarious people, many associations have stepped up to denounce the operation. On Twitter, the League for Human Rights said it was “extremely” worried.
“A worrying military-police operation is taking place in Mayotte to deport people without residence permits: our organizations are extremely worried and call on the officials on site to respect the rule of law”, wrote the LDH on April 13.
Also on Twitter, the National Consultative Commission on Human Rights denounced “an operation which violates the fundamental rights of those expelled and which is contrary to France’s international commitments in terms of respect for human rights”.
Finally, Defender of Rights Claire Hédon announced the presence of four of her delegates on site.
