Colonial Echoes: Mayotte's Struggle for Identity

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on May 10, 2023. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.

There’s an island in the Indian Ocean that’s part of France, called Mayotte – and it’s become a front line in the story of EU migration. Mayotte was part of neighboring Comoros until 1975. Now, Comorans and others migrate to Mayotte by boat, seeking asylum or a better life. 1,800 French security forces have deployed from mainland France as part of Operation Wuambushu, which means “take back” in Mayotte’s local language. The government says that the shantytowns full of people are becoming an economic, safety, and health concern. The move has sparked protests both for and against the operation.

In this episode:

• Dawud Bumaye (@dawudbumaye), Afro-Feminist and Comorian Activist

Episode credits:

This episode was updated by Tamara Khandaker. The original production team was Chloe K. Li, Khaled Soltan and our host, Malika Bilal. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.

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