International

Sébastien Lecornu visits Mayotte to address illegal immigration

During his visit to Mayotte, the French Prime Minister discusses irregular immigration and new control measures.

26 August 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Sébastien Lecornu visits Mayotte to address illegal immigration — Archive photoPhoto: Thuresson · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu arrived in Mayotte on August 26, accompanied by several ministers including Edouard Geffray, Minister of National Education, and Laurent Nunez, Minister of the Interior. This visit is scheduled to last two days and aims to discuss various issues, particularly irregular immigration affecting the archipelago of the 101st French department.

During his trip, Lecornu announced a strengthening of measures against illegal immigration. He emphasized the implementation of new surveillance and interception means to counter the flow of migrants. The government plans to increase pressure on the countries of origin and transit of migrants to curb the migratory phenomenon.

The Prime Minister also mentioned the conditionality of development aid for certain African nations, linked to the improvement of their collaboration in combating illegal immigration to Mayotte. This involves seven countries that will need to commit to efforts to control this immigration in order to benefit from public aid.

Lecornu visited the naval base of Dzaoudzi on the island of Petite Terre, where he reviewed operations conducted so far to curb illegal immigration. This meeting with military personnel and local authorities allowed for discussions on future measures to reinforce this action.

Among the new measures, the Prime Minister mentioned the use of drones for maritime surveillance, as well as the establishment of a forward base for the Foreign Legion in northwestern Mayotte. These initiatives aim to optimize the authorities' control and intervention capabilities.

Lecornu's arrival in Mayotte comes as the archipelago has recently been impacted by Cyclone Chido in 2024, which has exacerbated social and environmental challenges, further complicating immigration management. Discussions around these issues remain central and complex in the current context.

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