Mayotte: Youth violence on the rise

Event

Local government officials are warning of rising crime rates among youths despite a decrease in overall crime in the country. Mayotte experienced a decrease of criminality (burglaries, assaults, etc.) by 9 percent in 2017,  while violence between youths increased by 4.7 percent. Several cases of clashes between youths have been reported in recent weeks throughout the island, including youth throwing rocks at schools buses or assaulting school employees, prompting employees to temporarily suspend classes on February 11.

Context

Armed theft, robberies, and burglaries are common in Mayotte.

Cases of delinquency (theft) are particularly high in southern areas of the main island of Grande-Terre, which is popular with tourists, as well as on the east coast around Mamoudzou and on the island of Petite-Terre, home to the most densely-populated areas of Mayotte. Burglaries are typically concentrated in residential areas located near economic centers, near the port of Longoni (close to Koungou), Dzaoudzi-Pamandzi International Airport (DZA), and government buildings (Mamoudzou and Dzaoudzi).

Advice

Individuals present in Mayotte are advised to remain vigilant at all times, maintain a low profile (conceal signs of wealth to avoid attracting the attention of would-be thieves), and report suspicious behavior to relevant authorities. Do not attempt to resist would-be attackers or thieves; report attacks or robberies to the police.