Moroni, Comoros- (African Boulevard News) – President Azali Assoumani of the Comoros has called for talks with France over controversial plans to expel thousands of people from Mayotte, an island in the Indian Ocean. The majority of the illegal migrants are from Comoros.
President Azali Assoumani seeks talks with France
President Azali Assoumani has voiced his concerns over France’s plans to expel migrants from the island of Mayotte. In a public statement, President Assoumani made it clear that he would like to pursue diplomatic talks with the French government to come up with a solution that respects international law and the interests of both the countries. President Assoumani had earlier refused to accept any of the illegal migrants from Mayotte, but now he seems open to dialogue with France on this issue.
France’s contentious plan to remove illegal immigrants from Mayotte
France, which governs Mayotte, has taken a firm stance on the issue of illegal immigration. The French government’s plan is to remove all illegal immigrants from Mayotte, including those from the Comoros, and expel them to the nearest Comorian island, just 70 km away. The operation, named “Wuambushu,” is set to be carried out by 1,800 police and gendarmes stationed in Mayotte, although the French government is yet to announce a precise date for the operation.
Comorian government’s stand on the proposed French operation
The government in Moroni, the capital of Comoros, has made it clear that it will not accept any deportees from the operation planned by the French government in Mayotte. The Comorian government’s spokesman, Houmed Msaidie, stated on Friday that the Comoros do not intend to receive deportees from Mayotte. This firm stand taken by the Comorian government puts the French government’s plan to expel illegal migrants in a difficult spot.
Issues surrounding illegal immigration in Mayotte
Mayotte is a French overseas department located in the Indian Ocean, near Madagascar. The island has become a magnet for illegal immigrants from the Comoros, who risk their lives on small fishing boats, often overloaded and unsafe, to reach Mayotte. They come in search of a better life, in a place that is more prosperous than their home island. However, this has resulted in a complex situation where many of the island’s inhabitants are not French nationals, and a significant percentage of the island’s foreigners were born there.
Conclusion
The issue of illegal migration between the Comoros and Mayotte is a longstanding one, and it has become a contentious issue between the two countries. President Azali Assoumani’s recent announcement that he wishes to engage in talks with the French government is a positive step forward. However, the Comorian government’s firm stance against accepting any deportees from Mayotte could complicate the situation further. It remains to be seen how the French government will respond to President Assoumani’s call for dialogue on this issue.
