Alexandre Chauveau, edited by Gauthier Delomez / Photo credits: MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP
modified to
06:15, February 14, 2024
The associations present in Mayotte are accused by political leaders of playing a role in the migration crisis affecting the archipelago, in particular by helping smugglers to bring in migrants. This is notably the position of MP LR Mansour Kamardine, interviewed by Europe 1.
They are the ones who take care of the migrants when they arrive in Mayotte. Mahorese associations are accused by certain local political leaders of playing a role in the migration crisis affecting the Indian Ocean archipelago. As in mainland France, the State delegates the reception and management of migrants to them, that is to say, they take care of shelter and administrative assistance in completing application forms. asylum, but also preparation for interviews at the prefecture.
If refugee status is not granted, they assist migrants in filing their appeal. There are six associations on the island, and officials believe they actually play into the hands of smugglers.
A greater state subsidy depending on the number of migrants welcomed
This is the case of Mansour Kamardine, LR deputy for Mayotte. He accuses them of complicity with Comorian smugglers, and denounces the diversion of their mission. “The more the association welcomes migrants, the greater its subsidy from the State. So, there is a complete misuse of the system put in place and which undoubtedly started from a good feeling, but which has today become deadly”, says the elected representative of the archipelago at the microphone of Europe 1.
The MP also emphasizes the worsening of the migration crisis since the establishment of these associations in 2018. If their exact budget is not known, most of them are 100% subsidized by the State, like Solidarité Mayotte in particular.