France declared Monday a day of national mourning for the victims of Cyclone Chido, which hit the French overseas department of Mayotte. Flags were lowered to half-mast across the country and a minute of silence was observed.
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The cyclone, the most destructive to hit Mayotte in 90 yearsdevastated the island on December 14. According to the authorities, 35 people died and around 2,500 others were injured. The actual toll is probably much higher due to the widespread destruction of infrastructure and precarious living conditions. The 101st French department is the poorest territory in the Republic.
“The population of Mayotte is in the hearts of all French people,” wrote President Emmanuel Macron on X.”The victims in our memories. The nation is in mourning“.
The presidential couple observed at 11 a.m. a minute of silence from the steps of the Élysée in Paris.
From Matignon, the new Prime Minister François Bayrou observed the minute of silence by declaring: “ This minute of silence signifies the need to rebuild Mayotte and ensure that its population feels supported by the entire nation ».
Appointed head of the executive 10 days ago, François Bayrou is under pressure to announce the composition of his governmentwhich must be unveiled this Monday during this day of national mourning in solidarity with Mayotte.
Estelle Youssouffa, LIOT MP from Mayotte, accused the French government of neglecting the island.
“The Prime Minister appears to be considering announcing a cabinet reshuffle on a day of national mourning.declared the elected official Monday on France Inter. “It is shameful, contemptuous and profoundly mediocre. Everyone doesn't care about Mayotte, it's distressing! “.
A another controversy marred this day of national mourningit concerns the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, who did not respect the minute of silence, while speaking to the press.
The Minister of the Interior nevertheless paid tribute to the victims of Cyclone Chido in Mayotte, a few minutes later at the end of his speech. But It was well after 11 o'clock.
The Elysée clarified that no announcement would be made before 6 p.m. local time, so as not to disrupt the day of mourning.
It is the tenth time that a day of national mourning has been declared under the French Fifth Republicand the first time in response to a climate catastrophe. Previous times, it was mainly about paying tribute to former French presidents or to victims of terrorist attacks.
Cyclone Chido which hit Mayotte on December 14ea destroyed homes, disrupted water and electricity supplies and cut communications. Emergency teams continue their efforts to restore basic services, but the scale of the damage made recovery efforts particularly difficult.
Chido also hit the southeast of the African continent.
In Mozambique, the National Institute for Risk and Disaster Management (INGD) indicated on Sunday that 94 people were killed.
