French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged €3.2 billion ($3.6 billion) to help rebuild Mayotte after the island was ravaged by Cyclone Chido.
The storm, which struck the French overseas territory in mid-December, left 40 people dead and caused nearly $4 billion in damages.
Macron arrived in Mamoudzou, the capital of Mayotte, early Monday with First Lady Brigitte Macron and key government ministers.
The funding package, scheduled for use between 2025 and 2031, will draw on national, European, and international sources and be reviewed regularly.
“This is a phase of stabilization,” Macron said, acknowledging the continuing challenges. “There is still much to improve, and we are currently addressing that.”
In talks with local leaders, Macron discussed pressing issues including health, education, security, and illegal immigration.
He also addressed the controversial birthright citizenship law recently amended for Mayotte, calling it a response to “an abnormal situation.”
“The elected officials are right to say it’s an anomaly,” Macron said. “The perception of unfairness is legitimate in the current context.”
He noted changes in migration patterns, with increasing arrivals from the Great Lakes region of Africa over the past decades.
Macron announced a new crackdown on illegal immigration, targeting boats arriving from Tanzania and the Comoros.
“Our goal is 35,000 returns,” he stated, outlining a tough stance on controlling the flow of migrants to the archipelago.
The visit to Mayotte marked the start of Macron’s five-day tour of the Indian Ocean, with upcoming stops in Reunion, Madagascar, and Mauritius.