The Prime Minister, François Bayrou, visited Mayotte on December 30, 2024, a few days after the visit of the President of the Republic. Accompanied by several ministers, François Bayrou presented the island's reconstruction plan. This plan, called “Mayotte standing” contains emergency measures but also the deployment of longer-term measures, such as the construction of infrastructure in the areas of water and telecommunications.
An emergency bill for Mayotte will also be presented to the Council of Ministers on January 8, 2025 and will then be submitted to Parliament.
A bill for the refoundation of Mayotte will also be drawn up in the next three months, in consultation with elected officials, to redefine the future of the archipelago.
Reconstruction measures concern many areas
Infrastructures. The government plans to restore electricity to all homes by the end of January 2025. Among other measures:
- Electricity of Mayotte (EDM) will receive reinforcements from EDF agents and technicians;
- 200 generators, supplied by EDF, will be installed, primarily on sites linked to production as well as the water circuit;
- the restoration of existing drinking water production structures will be re-established as soon as possible. The development of other structures such as the construction of another desalination plant or a new hill reservoir are also planned;
- 200 Starlinks emergency devices will be deployed to restore communications, as well as infrastructure enabling 5G reception by the end of June 2025. A fiber optic network will be deployed within two years;
- a mobile control tower provided by the army was installed at the airport, allowing the resumption of civilian flights on 1is January 2025.
Housing and urban planning. Faced with the reconstruction project, the government plans the creation of a public establishment for the refoundation of Mayotte as part of the bill for the refoundation of Mayotte, on the model of that used for Notre-Dame. This establishment will integrate the current land establishment, give a central place to Mahorais elected officials and will aim to avoid the return of slums.
Concerning emergency measures, the State plans to send construction equipment (construction materials, protective tarpaulins). Loans guaranteed by the State will be made available to Mahorese families with subsidized interest rates over five years and blocking of the amortization rate of this loan.
Schools. Many establishments were devastated by the cyclone, making it still impossible for students to return to class, almost a month after the disaster. Furthermore, many teachers have left the region due to lack of accommodation. The government nevertheless plans a gradual resumption of courses from January 13, 2025. This will be done in an adapted manner, establishment by establishment, with priority for exam classes (bac, brevet, professional aptitude certificate). To achieve this objective, the Prime Minister plans:
- the deployment of school tents;
- a gradual evacuation of establishments currently serving as shelters;
- state subsidies for school transportation and classroom reconstruction;
- the possibility of temporary schooling of students in France.
Furthermore, a plan to attract and retain teachers will open up the possibility for students, retirees and volunteer teachers to come and teach in Mayotte.
Security. The resources of the gendarmerie will be strengthened with the creation of new brigades. The “Mayotte standing” plan provides for the training of 300 Mahorais gendarmes and auxiliary police officers to assist local units and prepare to carry out security missions in a sustainable manner.
Health. Renewal of patients' treatments will be authorized without a prescription. The health reserve will be mobilized. A second nursing training institute will be created and an attractiveness plan for health professionals will be launched in order to ensure the sustainability of recruitment on the island. In addition, mobile health teams will be deployed to respond to needs on the ground.
Economy. Company social security contributions will be suspended until March 31, 2025 as well as a global free zone exempting all companies for five years.
Will also be put in place:
- emergency financial aid for all businesses;
- a partial activity device.
Overseas France
French overseas territories are both diverse and similar. It is still struggling to meet the challenge of economic and social development.
Since 2011, there has been talk of overseas France, which requires taking into account the distance of these territories from the mainland and their social, cultural, political and statutory heterogeneity.
