French court halts clearance of Indian Ocean island slum

A French court halted the controversial clearance of a slum due Tuesday in the Indian Ocean island territory of Mayotte, dealing a blow to a major operation by the Paris government aimed at improving security.

The operation to clear slums on Mayotte and expel illegal migrants has sparked clashes between local youth and security forces as well as tensions with neighbouring Comoros.

The operation, called Operation Wuambushu ("Take Back" in the local language), aims to improve living conditions for Mayotte locals in France's poorest department, one of several French overseas territories that span the Caribbean to the Pacific.

A court in the main city of Mamoudzou on Tuesday stopped the clearance of one slum in the area of Koungou at the last minute, saying the action had no legal foundation and threatened public liberties.

The local administration said it would appeal. The clearance was supposed to mark a bold start to the operation which has no formal beginning or end date.

"The operation carried out in Mayotte is for the restoration of republican peace. It is a difficult but extremely determined action," said Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, confirming an appeal had been lodged.

'Disgusted'

But locals living in the Talus 2 slum feted the court decision stopping the evacuation, which was due early Tuesday.

"I am overjoyed, we went to court and we won. Nothing is going to be destroyed and we can relax," exulted Mdohoma Hadja, 33, raising her arms to the skies.

Some 1,800 members of the French security forces have been deployed for the operation. By Chafion MADI (AFP)

Some 1,800 members of the French security forces have been deployed for the operation, including hundreds sent from Paris, with young locals and police clashing in the district of Tsoundzou outside Mamoudzou since Sunday.

AFP journalists reported clashes outside slums on Tuesday. Barricades of tyres and dustbins lined the road and protesters threw stones at police, who fired tear gas and blast balls.

The Le Monde daily said security forces so far had fired 650 tear gas cannisters, 85 non-lethal grenade, and 60 blast balls during the unrest.

The deputy head of the Mayotte regional council, Salime Mdere, a supporter of the French government, meanwhile caused uproar after suggesting in a television interview that "these thugs and terrorists" should "at some point perhaps be killed".

French Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti in Paris said he was "disgusted" by the comments.

'Laboratory of policy'

Comoros, whose three islands lie to the northwest of Mayotte, said Monday it had refused to allow a boat carrying migrants from the island. Most of the illegal migrants being deported are Comoran.

The plan was for those without papers to be sent back to the Comoran island of Anjouan, 70 kilometres (45 miles) away from Mayotte.

The most senior Paris-appointed official on Mayotte, Thierry Suquet, told reporters he hoped to "quickly resume" boat deportations to Anjouan and hoped the standoff would be resolved through "dialogue".

Around half of Mayotte's roughly 350,000 population is estimated to be foreign, most of them Comoran. By Morgan Fache (AFP)

Intense negotiations between Comoros and France in recent weeks had raised the possibility of a last-minute deal.

But Comoros' leader Azali Assoumani -- who has held the rotating presidency of the African Union since February -- said he hoped the operation would be abandoned, admitting Moroni didn't have "the means to stop the operation through force."

Around half of Mayotte's roughly 350,000 population is estimated to be foreign, most of them Comoran.

Many African migrants, especially Comorans, try to reach Mayotte illegally every year.

These crossings risk ending in tragedy when the "kwassa kwassa" -- the small motorised fishing boats used by people smugglers -- are shipwrecked.

Residents on the island generally support the expulsions, accusing migrants of fuelling insecurity on the island.

Powerful French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin is spearheading the operation. By Alain JOCARD (AFP)

France's overseas territories administration has since 2022 been part of the hugely powerful interior ministry headed by the high-flying right-winger Darmanin, 40, a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron and tipped by some as a future prime minister.

Writing in Le Monde on Monday, Green MEP Damien Careme accused Darmanin of "attacking the poor" in the operation and of "wanting to make Mayotte the laboratory of his violent and inhuman policy".

Mayotte is the fourth island of the Comoros archipelago that France held on to after a 1974 referendum, but it is still claimed by Moroni.