Mayotte: General strike continues March 16 /update 6

Event

The general strike in Mayotte, ongoing now for nearly a month, continues as of Friday, March 16. Negotiations apparently broke down on March 15 and as such no end to the current crisis, which has virtually paralyzed the French overseas department, is in sight. Further protests and associated roadblocks (made with tires, tree trunks, metallic tubes, pallets, etc.) are to be anticipated throughout the duration of the strike; some actors are threatening to block access to strategic points, such as the island’s Dzaoudzi-Pamandzi International Airport (DZA). Schools remain closed. A heightened security presence is to be anticipated.

The strike and associated transportation issues could disrupt the legislative by-election scheduled for Sunday, March 18. The election was called after the Constitutional Council invalidated the June 2017 election of Ramlati Ali, a member of the ruling LREM (La République En Marche) party.

Context

Highly disruptive protests have broken out in Mayotte since February 20 to denounce the increased influx of Comorian migrants and related security concerns. The department's population is thought to be approximately 43 percent undocumented migrants - a situation which has incited the local population to violence against immigrants, who are often blamed for rising crime rates in the department.

Advice

Individuals in Mayotte are advised to avoid all demonstrations, be prepared for continued disruptions to transportation and daily life, and keep abreast of the situation.