Cyclone Chido in Mayotte: date, reflection… what you need to know about the national day of mourning declared by Emmanuel Macron

On December 19, 2024, Emmanuel Macron declared a day of national mourning next Monday following Cyclone Chido in Mayotte. We explain what this decree consists of.

“We all share the pain of the Mahorais,” lamented the President of the Republic on his X account.

On a trip to Mayotte following Cyclone Chido, which according to the latest provisional report left 31 dead on the archipelago, he announced a day of national mourning on December 23.

A decree presidential

“It is the President of the Republic who signs the decree establishing national mourning. He can decree one or more days of mourning”, note Public life. Then, it is up to the Prime Minister, in this case François Bayrou, to set the terms.

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Recollection

In some cases, the head of government may decide to organize a minute of silence.

On Monday, at 11 a.m., there will be a minute of silence, the head of state announced this Thursday from the Mayotte archipelago.

Flags at half-mast

One of the particularities of the days of national mourning is the lowering of flags to half-mast. That is to say, lowered to half-height. This concerns those that are hung on public buildings as well as army standards.

The last one dates back to 2020

The last day of national mourning dates back to 2020, decreed on the death of the former President of the Republic Valéry Giscard d'Estaing.

Three consecutive days were organized after the Charlie Hebdo attacks on January 7, 2015. It was the first time that it lasted more than 24 hours.

Finally in 2001, after the September 11 attacks in the United States, a day of national mourning was declared for the first time to commemorate an event occurring abroad.

Before 1958, only one day of national mourning had been declared: on the occasion of the deadly floods that occurred in the South of France in 1930. Hundreds of people lost their lives. In total, during the Fifth Republic, such days were declared nine times.