Mayotte is a territory that France strategically needs. Nestled in the heart of the Indian Ocean, the island is one of the major listening stations for the French intelligence services.
Mayotte, 101e French department, also the poorest, was ravaged by Cyclone Chido four days ago. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of deaths on this island thousands of kilometers from France, an island that became a French colony in 1843 and which, despite the difficulties and costs it generates, represents a strategic issue for Paris . Because Mayotte is also an essential geographical location for French services and what we call “the big ears” of France.
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A nugget of French intelligence
Mayotte, a natural gem with its exceptional lagoon but also a gem of French intelligence. There are only rare viewpoints to see the satellite listening dishes that France has on site.
The large white adjustable antennas blend into the island of Petite-Terre, between the ocean and the crater of an extinct volcano. On Google Earth, the site is blurred, on Google Maps, there is no indication of the activities developed in these buildings located between a shooting range and the power plant.
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An essential source of information
The signals intelligence site was started in 1998 by the French DGSE, in collaboration with German services to amortize costs. Objective: intercept and process all electronic data transiting over Africa, the Middle East and also towards Asia.
A strategic vision more than 25 years old which reveals its full accuracy today. The area monitored by these dishes is more agitated than ever. 300 men from the Foreign Legion are also present next to the listening center. In 2011, making Mayotte a department, with all the consequences that we know, was also a way of securing this source of information on French territory, so necessary for our services in this now so sensitive region.
