Abstract
The decision by France to definitively incorporate Mayotte as part of its sovereign territory has had a negative impact on the Union’s political, security and economic development. The introduction of a rigid visa regime preventing the free movement of people between the islands that comprise the Comoros archipelago has resulted in large-scale irregular migration from the three islands of the Union of Comoros to Mayotte. The chapter examines France’s rationales for retaining Mayotte; the impact of its policy on the inter-island politics of the Union and on the lives and livelihoods of the peoples of all four islands. It concludes that whilst the status quo is detrimental to all involved, the current French government is determined to retain the securitisation policy favoured by previous governments.
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Massey, S. (2015). A Hidden Catastrophe: Irregular Migration within the Comoros Archipelago. In: Massey, S., Coluccello, R. (eds) Eurafrican Migration: Legal, Economic and Social Responses to Irregular Migration. Palgrave Pivot, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137391353_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137391353_7
Publisher Name: Palgrave Pivot, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-56016-5
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