François Bayrou in Mayotte: here is the program of the Prime Minister, visiting this Monday the archipelago devastated by cyclone Chido

François Bayrou flew late Sunday afternoon to Mayotte, an archipelago devastated by a cyclone two weeks ago, where he wants to provide "concrete answers" to the colossal damage that calls for emergency solutions but also long-term reconstruction measures.

The Prime Minister took off at 6:00 p.m. from Orly airport, an AFP journalist noted, accompanied by his Ministers of State Elisabeth Borne (Education) and Manuel Valls (Overseas), as well as Valérie Létard (Housing), Yannick Neuder (Health) and Thani Mohamed Soilihi (Francophonie and International Partnerships). He is expected on site at 6:00 a.m. local time, according to a provisional schedule from Matignon.

Sixteen days after the passage of Cyclone Chido – the most devastating to hit the archipelago in 90 years, with 39 deaths and more than 4,000 injuries recorded to date – this large government delegation is expected by residents who hope for the full restoration of essential services such as water, electricity and communication networks.

Example this weekend in Mamoudzou, the capital of Mayotte, where a major clearing operation took place a few hours before Mr. Bayrou's arrival, with nearly 200 agents and a hundred companies hard at work.

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In the holds of the government Airbus are 2.5 tons of humanitarian equipment for the Mahorais, Matignon announced, mentioning “purification tablets water, equipment for providing care and equipment for dialysis patients.”

Putting an end to slums

The day on Monday will begin at 7:15 a.m. with a visit to the Petite Terre desalination plant, followed by a visit to the Kaweni 2 college in Mamoudzou and the field hospital set up after the cyclone.

Several meetings are planned with economic and educational stakeholders, security forces and local elected officials, as well as a tribute ceremony for gendarmerie captain Florian Monnier who died in action after the cyclone.

At the end of the day, François Bayrou will speak to the departmental council before heading to the island of La Réunion in the evening, an important logistics base for aid to Mayotte, located 1,435 kilometers away, where he will continue his visit on Tuesday morning before returning to the metropolis.

Beyond emergencies, the executive is also looking ahead to the challenge of reconstruction – François Bayrou has set a two-year target to achieve this. Minister Manuel Valls, for his part, stressed upon taking office the “nation's commitment to rebuild Mayotte, better and differently”.

Emmanuel Macron, who also came to the bedside of the Mahorais on 19 and 20 December, promised a special law to this effect to “rebuild Mayotte” and “put an end” to shanty towns. The text, which will include provisions already included in a draft law in preparation, could be presented as early as January 3, for the first Council of Ministers of the Bayrou government.