In Mayotte, thousands of people demonstrate on the occasion of the day "dead island"

Tuesday, April 19, Mayotte stopped for a few hours. Several thousand people took part in a morning march to denounce violence and insecurity on the island, as part of a citizen mobilization called "dead island".

The planned rally at Place de la République, in Mamoudzou, which then turned into a demonstration, brought together 2000 to 5000 people, according to the sources. It's exceptional in Mayotte and it's even more unprecedented for a call launched two days ago on the Social Media without any union relay, policy, denominational or professional.

The march, which went to the prefecture, on the heights of Mamoudzou, brought together people from all communities. Elected officials took part but none took the floor at the end of the course, which ended with a Marseille.

For the duration of the event, several administrations - such as the town hall or the social security fund -, shops or BUSINESSES had closed during the event for allow to their employees to participate. The activity resumed afterwards.

More than a movement of protest, spite or rejection, it was a mobilization of solidarity and hope for the future of the department. The initiative is indicative of this appetite for debate, exchanges and the search for alternative solutions that is emerging, in Mayotte as in mainland France, for doing relive hope. Paradoxically, this call for a “dead island” day is the reflection of a society that is taking action.

Active associative fabric

Mayotte comes, once again, from cross a serious crisis, with the general strike of recent weeks, punctuated by violence. It has happened before and it will happen again. But there is in this department of 212.000 inhabitants, according to the last census of 2012 – between 300.000 and 350.000 today, according to the lowest estimates – a tremendous energy, a citizen mobilization at all times, for try de " make it out ", to not lower arms.

Mayotte is also this extremely active associative fabric. Number of Mahorais, of mzoungous (metropolitans) or Comorians from neighboring islands take part in various associations, whether for thecan help school, support social, extracurricular activities, literacy…

Mayotte Weekly, the main press organ of the department, devoted one of its recent editions, dated April 8, to the “citizen awakening” of the Mahorais. “On the fringes of traditional institutional and political decision-makers, on the fringes of trade unions and their social movements, citizens are trying to make moving forward the island at all costs, with a common conviction: Mayotte deserves better than what is made of it, Mayotte will have better than what it is at present », wrote the weekly.

Petition for a development fashion industry

This "citizen awakening", challenging vis-à-vis elected officials and traditional organizations, had already found strong expression in February, when, in barely two weeks, a "collective of concerned citizens of Mayotte" had gathered 12.642 signatures on a petition addressed to Francois Hollande (i.e. 10% of the population adult in the department).

It was about share “this conviction that a sustainable development, is possible for our department, because we no longer want see Mayotte youth to run away our department, because we want to see our children flourish in the values ​​of freedom, equality and fraternity”.

This petition had remained a dead letter with the Presidency of the Republic, if not a standard response written by the head of the Head of State's cabinet.

Establish a dialogue

However, during recent events, the action of these associative networks has been decisive in soothe the situation and tie dialogue. Whether it was during the violence which, for three days, set certain neighborhoods of the department on the fringes of union roadblocks – gangs of dozens of young people Armed and hooded, criss-crossing the neighborhoods of Mamoudzou – or after the stabbing murder, Friday evening, of a father of family at the exit of judo where he was going recover his son, 13 years old.

Monday, for the first time, the prefecture, which had urgently brought together elected officials and state services after the homicide on Friday evening, had taken care of invite also a certain number of association leaders. As if the representative of the State were becoming aware of the urgent need to establish a dialogue and to mener a coordinated action with all of the "living forces" of the island.

Mobilization "Citizen" of Tuesday is exceptional in view of the dimensions and the situation of the department. Stay at know what extensions and what outlets it can us. But, for all local actors, it marks an important date.