Legislators in France's upper house are preparing to inject nearly €4 billion into Mayotte as part of a sweeping plan to tackle the territory’s deep-rooted social, economic, and security challenges.
The French Senate is poised to approve a landmark bill aimed at revitalising the overseas department of Mayotte, signalling a renewed commitment to a region grappling with multiple crises.
The draft programme bill, which sets out nearly €4 billion in state investment over the next seven years, marks what the government calls an “historic step” in the reconstruction and future development of the Indian Ocean archipelago.
More than five months after Cyclone Chido wreaked havoc on Mayotte, the government is seeking to rebuild not just infrastructure, but trust and hope. Located between the Comoros and Madagascar, Mayotte is France’s 101st department and its poorest.
The bill being discussed tackles wide-ranging issues from healthcare and education to housing, security, and migration.
The Senate, where a centre-right majority broadly supports the government, is expected to pass the bill in a formal vote at 6.30pm this Tuesday.
Mayotte struggles to recover a month after devastating cyclone Chido
'Brighter future'
While opposition voices, particularly from the left, are expected to raise concerns – especially around migration and security proposals – the bill is likely to secure strong backing overall.
“We have not abandoned Mayotte,” said Overseas Minister Manuel Valls, who championed the bill in recent debates at the Senate.
He described the legislation as a foundation for a brighter future and praised senators’ support for the core elements of the government’s plan.
Yet not everyone is convinced. Mayotte’s own senator, Saïd Omar Oili, sounded a note of caution. “It’s not enough,” he warned, accusing the government of offering “a catalogue of promises rather than a real roadmap.”
He called for transparency and tangible outcomes, stressing that “everything is falling apart in Mayotte”.
Posting on X last month, Mayotte deputy Estelle Youssouffa, wrote: "4 months after Cyclone Chido, reconstruction has still not started in Mayotte : the population is in despair, businesses are dying. The department is slowly dying from the French government's inertia..."
€4 billion investment
The bill is notable for its dual structure: it contains both binding legislative measures and a programme section that sets out the state’s objectives for 2025–2031.
Alongside the €4 billion investment, the plan introduces tax incentives via a new free zone, and aims to achieve “social convergence” with mainland France by 2031.
Infrastructure and housing redevelopment also features prominently, with the bill streamlining expropriation procedures to speed up vital projects.
But it’s the proposed migration controls that have generated the most heated debate.
Macron unveils €3bn package to rebuild cyclone-hit Mayotte
Migration 'influx'
To address what it describes as a “massive influx” of undocumented migrants – particularly from the Comoros – the government has proposed stricter residency rules, tougher penalties for fraudulent paternity claims, and new family detention centres.
Critics, particularly on the left, have voiced alarm over the human rights implications of the measures.
“Blinded by the migration issue and carried away by a crusade against immigration, the government is determined to turn Mayotte into a place where human rights are trampled underfoot,” said Réunion senator Evelyne Corbière Naminzo of the Communist Party.
French PM Bayrou promises 'concrete' aid and two-year reconstruction of Mayotte
Government's 'ambitious' plan
Yet government supporters argue that restoring order is key to progress.
“There can be no rebuilding without control of migration flows,” said Olivier Bitz of the Horizons party.
For the government, this ambitious bill is not just about mending what’s broken – but about forging a more stable and prosperous future for Mayotte.
The National Assembly will take up the bill in June, with final approval expected by early summer.
If passed, it could usher in a new chapter for this often-overlooked corner of the French Republic.
