Emanuel Macron. POOL / REUTERS
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday “his concern about the social and security situation in Mayotte“, during an interview with the President of the Comoros Azali Assoumani, reported the Elysee. The two heads of state areagreed to continue cooperation in the fight against illegal immigration, both in terms of deportation and prevention of departures“, According to a press release.
Many African and Comorian migrants try every year clandestinely to reach Mayotte, half of whose population is foreign. Since 2019, the French State has considerably increased its means of combating this illegal immigration, with in particular the continuous presence at sea of interceptor boats and aerial surveillance. On a visit to Mayotte in December, the French Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin, expressed his desire to strengthen the fight.
Read alsoMayotte: Macron wants to “launch more vigorous work” with the Comoros
Azali Assoumani took over as head of the African Union (AU) a month ago, for which Emmanuel Macron called him “bliss“. “The two presidents insisted on their common desire to continue implementing the agenda resulting from the Europe-Africa summit of February 2022“, Continues the Elysée. This commitment ended with a desire to rebuild the partnership between Europe and Africa to face the common challenges of the two continents, particularly in terms of ecological transition, with an investment package of more than 150 billion euros. euros.
